How I Met My Mate | Roller Skating Romance: Dyrle and Bobbie Phillips

ROCKWALL, TX (Feb. 9, 2026) Our story starts over 67 years ago when a new girl joined our youth group at church and caught my eye. I was very interested in dating her. I was looking for opportunities to invite her out on a date. She brought her high school annual to church for all her friends to sign. I wrote in her annual ‘Roses are red, violets are blue; this may not rhyme but I want a date with you’. It worked!

Our first date was roller skating at the church wide roller-skating event. After dating for a year, I proposed and gave her an engagement ring. Her parents thought she was too young and encouraged her to date others. So shortly thereafter we eloped to Greenville, TX in October 1959 and kept our marriage a secret for a couple of months. Her parents found out we were married by Christmas. I got a job, rented an apartment, and she finished her senior year in high school and graduated. After our first anniversary, we welcomed our first child, and then two more followed. We had many adventures traveling to London, Paris, and Switzerland; Hawaii and many other places in the US.

After retiring we moved to Rockwall, and we are members at First Baptist Rockwall. Sixty-six wonderful and happy years together, our family now includes 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren with another on the way in June. God has blessed this union in more ways than we could ever imagine.

Story and photos submitted by Cathy Stawasz (daughter).

Editor’s Note: Each year for Valentine’s Day, Blue Ribbon News asks local couples to share stories of how they met. Publishing their tales of true love has become one of our favorite traditions. This year the response was overwhelming. Stay tuned to our Facebook page as Valentine’s Day approaches. The names of several lucky participating couples will be randomly drawn to win gifts from our local prize sponsors – Culpepper Cattle Co., Dodie’s Cajun Diner, Zanata, Wickland’s Sweet Connection, Lakeside Florist, and Wildflower Wigs.