They met in college
This is the shocking love story of Janice Rude and Wilson Prentiss. They two met at college in Los Angeles, in 1962. After a whirlwind romance, the two young love birds decided to tie the knot. They knew they wanted to have a small wedding, celebrating their love, surrounded by family and friends.
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Their love story began and ended
Janice and Wilson met in the University’s cafeteria, where she was working. After a chance encounter, the two went on their first date and the rest, as they say, was history. They fell in love and became inseparable.
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Not what he had in mind
When Janice told her father about her plans to marry Wilson, he insisted that she end the relationship and cancel the wedding. Janice already had her heart set on the most beautiful wedding dress, but she felt devastated by her dad’s disapproval. She could not go ahead without her father’s consent. Tragically, she didn’t go through with the wedding.
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A father’s explanation
Many years later, Janice explained to AARP Magazine the possible reasons her father was so against her marriage with Wilson.
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She Had To Make A Choice
Janice was actually being forced to choose between her relationship with Wilson and her college education. Her father didn’t believe she could balance her time and attention between college and Wilson. Her mom supported her in her relationship with Wilson, but her father was determined to do anything to keep them apart so his daughter could earn her college degree.
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Wilson was a great guy
Wilson was a dedicated student and very active in a wide range of college activities. Actually, Wilson was quite the catch. That’s why Janice was even more confused by her father’s disapproval. What was so wrong about Wilson? The pair considered eloping or a secret destination wedding, but Janice did not feel comfortable lying to her father about such a momentous life decision. Instead of planning a honeymoon, the two were planning to leave one another. Janice was devastated.
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Love at First Sight
‘Love at first sight’ – this is how Wilson described their relationship in an interview he gave to Huffington Post. He said, “I believe we were simply meant to be, I even remember the first time I laid eyes on Janice.” Wilson longed to make Janice his wife – how had their plans gone so wrong?
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Thanksgiving Weekend
Long before things took a turn for the worse, Janice drove over 150 miles just to meet Wilson’s parents and spend the weekend with her future family. She showed up unexpectedly and Wilson was thrilled to introduce the love of his life to his parents. After a special weekend together, they shared the news of their engagement.
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Engagement
Soon, the local papers wrote about this young couple love story. But, Janice’s father was enraged and offered his daughter an ultimatum. He told Janice he would stop supporting her college studies if she chose to go ahead with the marriage.
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A Choice
Janice was emotional and torn. She knew that without the financial support of her father she would not be able to finish her studies and gain her degree, which she had always dreamed of getting. On the other hand, Wilson was the love of her life and she could not imagine her future without him.
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Mother’s Help
Unlike Janice’s dad, Janice’s mother had realized their relationship was one of a kind. That’s why she did her best to help Janice. This loving mother pulled out a second mortgage in order to pay for Janice’s education.
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Failed Efforts
But, her mothers encouragement was not enough, Janice’s father still forced his daughter to break off her relationship and cancel the wedding plans. Her father never told Janice the real reason for his behavior and negative attitude. In her own words, she said that “Wilson was a street boy” and too unrefined for her father’s taste.
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Trying to figure it out
Janice and Wilson tried to uncover the real reason for her father’s negative attitude but they never managed to get the truth out of the stubborn man. Ultimately, her father’s disapproval proved too much for the pair to handle. They split up and went their separate ways – a sad ending to an otherwise beautiful love story. Was this truly the end?
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Separate Paths
The years went by and both Janice and Wilson went on with their lives. They became very successful and built their own careers. Wilson became one of the best tax attorneys in San Francisco while Janice took over her family business in Nevada.
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Crisis Mode
Both of them married were married but each relationship ended in divorce. After they each mourned the loss of their mothers, the two decided to drastically change the course of their lives.
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A Little Reminder from 1962
Both of them went through a painful grieving process. Strangely enough, it was this painful experience which brought them together again. As each of them went through their mothers’ belongings, they found the newspaper article from 1962. The one that announced their engagement all those years before.
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The First Attempt
The couple had finally both moved on from their previous relationships. Finally, after so many years, when they were both single again, Wilson asked Janice to brunch.
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Nervous Feelings
Both Wilson and Janice were nervous to see whether the spark still existed between them. It was now or never. They knew tat this was their only chance to rekindle their love affair or part forever.
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Reunited
After 35 years, Janice and Wilson were finally together. Free to love each other and enjoy each other’s companionship. Thanks to their loving mothers. All that time, they kept the article about their love and their wedding. Wilson said, “The mothers got it. The mothers simply knew, and I think we also knew”.
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The First Date
The destined lovers’ first date was in San Francisco’s Cliff House. Janice was wearing the same colored slacks she wore for Thanksgiving in 1961. Wilson immediately noticed that and 6 months later, the couple was engaged and finally ready to spend their lives together.
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A True Romantic
Wilson knew how many days they had been separated. ”We lament every day that we missed being together. That’s about 17,500 days — but who’s counting?”. It seems, true love conquers all in the end.
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The wedding invitation
They used the fateful newspaper cutting from 1962 on their wedding invitations. Finally, they could celebrate their love with all those they truly cared about.
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Finally married
On August 19th, 2012, the pair were finally made to be man and wife. They were married in the student union at the Occidental College. This was the exact location where they first met, all those years ago.
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Happily Ever After
Janice and Wilson now live together in Napa Valley. Time has not affected their deep love and connection. They said in an interview, “We feel like we’re 18 again,” and that they are “blissfully in love.”