A healthy love
Widow , widower tie knot after finding love in THC senior exercise class
STORY BY Monica Faram
A pair of newlyweds will celebrate their first Christmas together next week , all thanks to a free class offered by a local hospital .
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Cleburne ’ s free senior exercise class advertises for senior citizens to “ Find your perfect fit !”
Joe Craig , 73 , and Jill Goodgion , 71 , found even more than their perfect fit when they met each other .
What started out as a close friendship while stretching , lifting weights and doing lunges , developed into a romance over the months .
The perfect match was wed in November at Cleburne Bible Church . They credit the exercise classes with not only improving their health but leading them to love .
“ If it hadn ’ t been for the exercise class , I don ’ t know if we would have ever really gotten together ,” Craig said .
The classes , part of the hospital ’ s community wellness program , are held eight times a week at locations throughout Cleburne and Keene . Christopher Leu , president of Texas Health Cleburne , said the classes are one way that Texas Health is carrying out its Mission to improve the health of the people in the communities it serves .
“ We wanted to provide senior citizens in the Cleburne area a way to stay active and healthy but are thrilled that this couple also got an added benefit – love ,” Leu said . “ Exercise is good for
the body , mind and , as the Craigs certainly exemplify , the heart as well .” A church fellowship event in February led to the kismet meeting , when Craig took the last seat available next to Goodgion .
A recent widower , the Air Force veteran admitted he found it a challenge to meet new people . He decided he could use some exercise and would enjoy attending a class with his new acquaintance when she mentioned the exercise class .
“ The first two days that I went to the exercise class , she wasn ’ t there , so it was just me and 25 women . No pressure ,” Craig said with a laugh . “ I talked to some of them , and they have been doing this for 10 years . They ’ re jumping all over the place and I ’ m trying to keep up .”
By his third class , Goodgion was back , and before long , the two were regularly talking and sometimes going to lunch together after class . Both insisted it would go no further . “ I said I would not get married again and she said she was happy with her single life , and I respected that ,” Craig said . “ So , it was just like we were going to be pals and go to lunch and maybe catch a movie or something … We started hanging out more and more and , all of a sudden , it turned into more than pals .”
Like the plot of any good Hallmark movie , the two initially tried to resist their feelings .
“ I said , ‘ OK , let ’ s decide to stay
Community Life 17