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E-mail This StoryIn 1942, Lou Kaposta was a 19-year-old taken aback by America Rios’ striking beauty.
They met, they fell in love, and more than 30 moves across the United States and Europe, six children, eight grandchildren later, they’re still each others Valentine.
Today is their 66th wedding anniversary.
A surprising blind date
On their blind date in 1942, America thought “Who is this guy?”
“He was wearing a bright green suit, and he had blond hair, which I didn’t like,” America said. “Men back then wore black, brown or gray, and I just didn’t know what to think of his green suit.”
The two were set up by a mutual friend and went dancing. They lived in Chicago and shared similar interests such as swimming and dancing.
Six months later, the war threatened to take Lou away so the couple got married on Valentine’s Day at St. Kevin’s Catholic Church in Chicago.
“I was a child bride,” Lou said jokingly of his three-year age difference between then 22-year-old America.
America said, by today’s standards, the ceremony was not fancy.
“My gown cost $40 and the cake was $50, not like today with the $1,000 gowns and expensive photographers and cake,” she said. “It was very lovely though.”
In less than a year, Lou was sent to Wichita Falls for basic training before he went overseas for two years.
On their last night together before Lou left, America said she was able to spend one hour in private with her husband.
“Thirty days later, I found out I was pregnant,” she said.
Starting apart
Their first and only daughter Susan was born in Chicago while Lou was away at war. Susan didn’t meet her father until she was 2-years old and America said it took their daughter a while for her to warm up to him.
“She didn’t like his blond hair because I had such dark hair. And, she didn’t like that he was getting in bed with her momma,” America said. “She eventually got accustomed to her daddy.”
The couple also raised five boys, Gary, Eric, Keith, Bruce and Brian.
The couple lived in 39 different houses over the years as they moved from Florida to Washington, Virginia, Texas, Indiana, Paris, Belgium and England to name a few.
Sitting in the dining room of their Southlake home amidst pictures of their family as well as works of art created by their son Eric, the couple talks about the memories they’ve shared.
Lou defers to his wife’s memory often, stopping to ask, “Meca, when was that house built?” or “How long did we date before we got married?”
In between stories, America pauses to ask her husband, “Wasn’t it lovely?” or “Remember that, Dad?”
America said one of the most unforgettable experiences they shared was when the family moved from Homestead Air force base in Florida to Spokane, Wash.
“We spent 30 days traveling the country and camping at parks and such along the way,” America said. “Camping with all the children, that was an experience to remember. We were really roughing it.”
Detour to Europe
After a few moves around the United States, the family moved to Europe, where they spent eight years and had experiences much more glamorous than camping for 30 days.
“We loved every hour we were there, especially in Paris,” America said.
In 1953, they attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
“It was an experience of a lifetime,” America said. “We could see the queen through the gold carriage, and it was just amazing.”
In 1955 the youngest children, twin boys — Bruce and Brian — were born in England on the Rudyard Kipling Estate.
The twins came as quite a surprise, America said, since there’s no history of twins in her family. A miscarriage the previous year also left America to believe she couldn’t bear anymore children.
The couple also met Audrey Hepburn on the set of “How to Steal a Million” as well as director William Wyler.
“She was a darling person and she was so sweet to us,” America said. “She spoke five languages, so we sat and spoke in Spanish and a little French.”
They also attended the last “soiree de bienfaisance,” a military ball at Versailles in Paris in 1965.
“I’ll never forget it. It was definitely a highlight of our lives,” America said.
Celebrating the memories
From a blind date, to traveling the world and raising a family, to settling down in Southlake almost 30 years ago, Lou and Meca still have a twinkle in their eyes for each other and celebrate their lives together.
In 1992, the Kapostas celebrated their 50th anniversary in Houston.
“We had a big blast,” America said. “The kids gave us a first class celebration, quite memorable. Friends and family from all over came, including my maid of honor from Chicago.”
The couple originally planned to visit San Miguel, Mexico to celebrate their anniversary this year, but have postponed the trip until April. Lou said they plan to go out to a nice dinner instead.
