Western Bureau:

THE 40-YEAR MARRIAGE of Mr and Mrs. Kenneth and Dorothy Brown has been filled with love.

The couple met in January 1959 when Mrs. Brown was standing in the yard of her grandmother's residence and Mr. Brown just happened to be riding by.

"I saw him riding a bicycle where I lived in Johnson Town, Hanover," said a still starry-eyed Mrs. Brown. "He had on a pink shirt, I can never forget it. He was so handsome, he was really handsome."

Equally as impressed with the specimen he saw, Mr. Brown, after cycling past his future wife, stopped and turned back to meet this beauty.

"She was like, nice and petite," he said. "The way she looked at me. I turned back and went to speak to her and she ran off."

Intrigued by this longhaired beauty Mr. Brown decided to seek out this young lady.

"I could not find her so I went and asked and people told me where she lived and I went to find her," said Mr. Brown.

And so it was that what could be called nothing short of a whirlwind romance began as, after finding his lady, Mr. Brown made it his point of duty to visit and get to know Dorothy.

A life together

"We started talking with one another and from there we decided to make a life together," said Mr. Brown. "It did not take too long, we were sitting one night and talking in her grandmother's home and her grandmother came in and told her whenever she ready to find a boyfriend let the boyfriend find place put her."

Although a mere 16 years of age, young Mr. Brown was not a man to be toyed with, and taking Ms. Mina at her word, he left that very evening to find a place for Dorothy to stay.

"There was a building in the same yard that was letting so I went across and asked the gentleman for a room and what it (the cost) was," said Mr. Brown. "He told me yes and I came back and told her to go over there and pick up any room you want. The next morning I told her to come over to my workplace and take whatever she wants to put in her place."

An already strong relationship, despite its rapid development, the Browns involvement thickened and when Mr. Brown migrated to London some months later it was only natural that Dorothy went with him.

"I sent for her as quick as I could," Mr. Brown said. "She was up in June of 1961. I paid her fare and sent for her. We got married March 21, 1964."

With 40 years, six children and six grandchildren under their belt the Browns have only one request, that God may grant them health to see their golden anniversary.

"I am glad for the partner I have," said Mrs. Brown. "He is everything to me, and with God's help we are looking to celebrate our Golden anniversary."