Bob and Caroline met on a blind date arranged by her sister while students at UNC in 1956. Caroline, a majorette, and Bob, a sandwich and juice entrepreneur, were soon separated by military service and divergent career paths. Unable to endure being apart, Bob proposed to Caroline. They were married in 1959 in Caroline's hometown of Smithfield. They celebrate their 50th anniversary with three daughters and six grandsons.

Bob is retired from a career in marketing that began in Greensboro and took him and the family to various parts of North Carolina, Ohio, California, Wisconsin and Colorado. Caroline is retired from her career as a teacher and travel consultant. After all the places they have lived and visited, they are back in the place where it all began, the place they love most of all. Bob and Caroline reside in Chapel Hill, where they are active grandparents, dog sitters, gardeners and members at Church of the Holy Family and involved with a variety of community organizations.