Love Story: Bud and Norma Haines

Published 10:56 pm Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Bud Haines had just returned from 28 months of service with the Army Air Corps when he enrolled in classes at Everett Junior College. It was 1946.

One evening, Bud went to a public dance and met Norma Robinson. They danced together.

When Bud’s friend wanted to return to the dance the next night, Bud declined because he didn’t have a date. His friend then went to Norma, invited her to the dance and went back to Bud.

“He said, ‘You’ve got a date now,’ ” Norma said.

V. Bud and Norma Haines of Everett will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today.

Bud and Norma were married Oct. 31, 1947, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Everett.

They have six children, 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Norma remembered Bud from the first dance. She had thought he was a very nice looking blond fellow.

“We got along well dancing,” Norma said. “All in all we liked each other from the start.”

The couple began dating and were engaged on Easter in 1947.

Bud and Norma did not deliberately choose Halloween to get married. They had wanted the wedding to take place on Nov. 1, All Saint’s Day.

“I couldn’t get the old Everett Golf and Country Club,” Norma said. “Someone was in there.”

Bud and Norma had a formal wedding with a reception at the country club. Their honeymoon was to Victoria, B.C., but they only had the weekend to celebrate because Bud had to be back at work on Monday.

At that time, Bud worked at an electrical specialty company. He then went into auto sales until 1953. The day that he went to work for K &H Printers in Everett, Norma gave birth to their first son. The couple previously had two daughters.

Norma and Bud eventually bought into the printing business and in 1969 bought the partners out. That’s when Norma went to work.

“I wasn’t busy enough at home with six children,” Norma said.

Norma retired in 1983, and Bud retired a few years later. Two of their sons now own the business.

When it comes to marriage, Norma says that she and Bud both had the same goals: They wanted to raise their family in a comfortable manner and she wanted to be involved in their business. They were in their world together, she said.

“We came out with really wonderful kids,” Norma said.

Norma describes Bud as very outgoing and friendly, and a man who when he saw his wife up to her eyebrows in children would be there for the family.

“It’s been wonderful for me,” Norma said. “I can’t imagine life without him. I loved him pretty much right away.”