Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 18, 1994 TAG: 9409200008
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
How do you make a marriage last 20 years?
``A lot of forgiveness,'' says Jim Dunn, who did it.
``Think of the other one, and sometimes bite your tongue,'' said Kathy Dunn, who did it, too.
Wish the Dunns, of Richmond, a happy anniversary.
Through job changes, three children, a few disagreements and one late-night house fire, the Dunns prevailed.
``There's a lot of experience that brought us closer together,'' Jim Dunn said. ``Our marriage has certainly not been the Mr. and Mrs. Cleaver type. I don't know anybody's that is.''
``We've come close a couple of times'' to ending it, Kathy Dunn admitted. ``But we've got too much going to give it up.''
Kathleen Rose Seifert grew up in Roanoke, where she attended Roanoke Catholic School. William James Dunn II is from Goochland.
In 1974, she was working as nurse at a Richmond hospital; he was a respiratory therapist.
They had been engaged for a year when they said their vows in Richmond's St. Bridget's Catholic Church.
Both are from traditional families, with parents who did not divorce.
``That's where you get your values,'' said Kathy Dunn. ``It's not what they teach you, it's what you see.''
The Dunns noted marriage has greatly altered since their own parents tied their knots.
``The whole way marriage is handled has changed. My mother never worked,'' said Kathy Dunn. ``Dad was the breadwinner. That was just the way it was.''
Nowadays, ``Almost all families have to have two careers,'' she said. ``And I want my boy to be as agile in the kitchen as the girls are.''
The Dunns have three children: Whitney,15, Paul, 9, and Katie, 6.
Kathy Dunn currently works as a nurse in Richmond. Jim Dunn, after a couple of career changes, is now vice president and sales manager for Fire Rescue Vehicles and Equipment.
Faith has helped them through the rough spots, said the Dunns. Both are Catholics, but, ``I don't think the denomination has a whole lot to do with it,'' Jim Dunn said.
Whatever the reason, the word ``divorce'' sends a shiver down Kathy Dunn's spine.
``I know that divorce is on the rise,'' she said. ``But you don't think about it.''
``It's just so easy to pick that avenue,'' said her husband. ``I think it's kind of the chic thing to do.''
by CNB