Campus Love - The Menningers

Theirs is a story that serves as a reminder that a lifelong love can be born at even the most ordain and unexpected moments.

Gaynia’s grandmother had a building in Kansas City, Kan. that used to be the home to her grocery store that had gone out of business. She asked all of her grandkids whether they thought that it was a good idea to allow Emmanuel Baptist Church’s youth group to open a coffee shop in the building. All of the grandkids liked the idea, except for Gaynia who opposed, saying that it would not be safe for her grandmother, given the close proximity between her home and the store.

Despite Gaynia’s concern, her grandmother allowed the church to open their shop. Little did Gaynia know that that coffee shop would change her life.

When Gaynia was visiting her grandmother one day, her grandmother took her to the shop and introduced her to the workers. Amongst those workers was a college senior from KU named Richard Menninger.

Gaynia recalls having a positive impression of Richard. “My first thought was, ‘You’re a senior at KU, I’m going to date you.’” Gaynia said.

Richard recalled that Gaynia was “confident and extremely good looking.”

Richard asked her out and they went to a drive-in on July 20, 1969—the day that man first walked on the moon.

It did not take long for their relationship to blossom. Just a few months later, on October 19, 1969, Richard proposed while they were sitting in Gaynia’s driveway after a date.

Gaynia explained that they did not date that long because “they were just that sure.”

They were married on January 25, 1970. Forty-four years later, they have stood the test of time and are still happily married.

Together, the Menningers have braved the trials and joys of life. They have worked side-by-side all but 18 months of their married life. Gaynia worked at the seminary where Richard was studying and then has worked at many of the places that he has taught. They were blessed to work together for all but a short span of time after they had moved back to Kansas from California.

“There was only one time for 18 months that we didn’t share the same thing. I was working at the Girl Scouts and he was teaching,” Gaynia said. “It’s a God thing.”

Currently both of the Menningers work at OU— Gaynia works as the Executive Assistant to the President and Richard is the Chair of the Department of Theological and Religious Studies and teaches a variety of religion classes.

Working together has allowed the Menningers to spend time together, which is a bit of marriage advice that Gaynia shares. They also both find that it’s important to share the same faith as their spouse.

“Find someone who will enhance your walk with Christ; stay pure because marriage can only be fully experienced when you are totally committed to another physically, emotionally and spiritually; place Christ at the center of your marriage and grow deeper into Him and into each other,” Richard said.

The Menningers spend time together traveling and doing yard work. They go on walks, watch TV together and spend time with family—they have two kids and two grandkids.

After 44 years of marriage, Gaynia says that the best part of being married is sharing everything.

“If you have secrets, it’s because you’re going to surprise them with something,” she said. “Also, every Valentine’s Day, I get a dozen roses from Richard. He’s kind of a romantic.”

To Richard, the best part of being married is having someone say ‘I love you’ at the end of the day.