everlasting love

By Rod Haxton, editor

Knipps are longest

married couple in Ks.

Gilbert Knipp wasn’t the first love in Barbara’s life, but there was no doubt in her mind he would be the last.

The past 74 years haven’t proven her wrong.

“I guess you could call it love at first sight,” reflects Barbara. Gilbert wasn’t a very big guy, but I could tell right away he was a good guy.”

Gilbert, on the other hand, wasn’t necessarily thinking about love the first time they met.

“I was just a dumb farm boy,” he says with a smile. “I wasn’t thinking that far ahead.”

After all, he’d gone into Wichita to look at farm machinery. He wasn’t expecting to find a wife.

But that’s exactly how it unfolded.

After a two-year long-distance engagement - Gilbert in Scott City and Barbara in Wichita - the couple finally exchanged vows on June 14, 1939. Not only has the marriage endured for more than 72 years, but they now have the distinction of being the longest married couple in Kansas, according to Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Not bad for a couple who met by accident.

As noted by Gilbert, he had gone to Wichita to see farm equipment and was accompanied by Jeff Mulch and Alfred Winderlin, who was a cousin to Barbara. They stopped at the Conner house where Gilbert and Barbara met for the first time.

Barbara was engaged at the time, but knew instinctively that Gilbert was the right man for her. In fact, the couple, along with some friends, went dancing that same night. That was all it took to seal the deal in Barbara’s eyes.

“Gilbert loves to sing and dance,” says Barbara.

And still, Gilbert had no hint of the fate that awaited him until the return trip home when Barbara’s mother accompanied him and the Winderlin brothers back to Scott City.

“The boys wanted me to drive the car and Barbara’s mother sat in the front seat with me,” says Gilbert. “We were down the road just a little ways when she said, ‘Barbara is in love with you.’”

Since they were 200 miles apart and transportation was more difficult in the late 1930s, the couple had few opportunities to see each other. And, as Barbara pointed out, “we didn’t have much money.”

They had to be content with exchanging numerous letters over the next couple of years. Gilbert often had the job of watching the irrigation wells at night and would use the opportunity to write letters to Barbara by the light of a kerosene lantern.

On one of those rare trips to Wichita, Gilbert was accompanied by another of Barbara’s cousins, Paul Winderlin. He stopped in a jewelry store and purchased an engagement ring . . . with cash. Winderlin may have been more impressed than Barbara.

“As soon as we walked into Barbara’s home, Paul announced to everyone that ‘Gilbert bought a diamond ring and he paid cash,’” says Gilbert. “I could have kicked him.”

A year later the couple was married on June 14, 1939, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Wichita.

And what of her former fiance´?

“We remained friends,” says Barbara. “There were no hard feelings.”

 

On the Move

Following their marriage, the couple lived on the family farm west of Scott City for a short time, but soon moved because of the drought.

While living in Wichita, Gilbert sold Hoover vacuums before working as an appliance salesman for Sears. During World War II, Gilbert worked for Stearman’s Aircraft Manufacturing (later to become Boeing Aircraft) as a production engineer.

Following World War II, Gilbert joined thousands of workers who were laid off so he became a regional sales representative for farm equipment and pre-fabrication buildings in the western half of Kansas. When that company was shut down, Gilbert and Barbara returned to the family farm near Scott City where they remained until he sold the farmstead in about 1975.

It was during those years in Wichita that the Knipps started an unexpectedly large family. They had originally been told they couldn’t have children, so they decided to adopt. Ten-month-old Daniel joined the couple in October 1944, shortly followed by the news that Barbara was pregnant. Sara was born in July of 1945, followed over the next nine years by Anita, John, Sam and Ruth.

The couple has six children, 14 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Gilbert admits he never gave much thought to how large a family they would eventually have.

“We never had any plans,” he said, but then glances at Barbara, “but I may be talking out of turn.”

It’s that kind of mutual respect . . . and love . . . which is evident as the couple shares their life’s story.

Barbara credits their deep religious faith and support of the Catholic church. Gilbert also feels it goes back to their shared interests.

“We enjoy dancing and card parties,” he says. “We enjoy doing things together.”

And then, as if to reinforce their shared partnership, he looks to his wife and asks, “Isn’t that right, Barbara?”

Before she can answer, he adds, “She’s done an awful lot for me.”

The Knipps are only beginning to offer a hint of their age - Gilbert will turn 98 in June and Barbara is 94 on Feb. 8. Barbara admits she’s not as “sharp as I used to be” since suffering a mild stroke three years ago.

However, the couple is still in surprisingly good health. It was less than a year ago that they moved out of their home and into Park Place Assisted Living Apartments in Scott City.

Gilbert still drives around town.

His secret?

“Dr. Palmer told me years ago that if you want to enjoy a long and healthy life take an aspirin each day and a shot of scotch,” says Gilbert with a grin.

He won’t admit how strictly he’s followed that advice.

After 72 years, the Knipps can’t imagine a better life or having lived it with anyone else.

“We’ve been very, very fortunate,” Barbara adds.

 

User Comments

• German Grandson

  "My name is Joerg Forchel from Solingen, Germany. In 1991/92 I was a foreign exchange student at Peabody, KS, and my hostfamily was the Richenburg family i Burns, KS. And since Sue Richenburg, my host-mother, is Barbara and Gilbert's daughter I guess I am their German Grandson. And that is what those two call me since then! And so I am very proud of my American Grandparents Gilbert and Barbara Knipp!!! Herzlichen Glückwunsch aus Deutschland! Jörg"

  Posted by Joerg Forchel on Feb. 6, 2012

• son

  "What a great story. Makes me proud to call them Mom and Dad!"

  Posted by Sam Knipp on Feb. 4, 2012

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