Their romance started with an irresistible smile.(Flavor/Gracious Living)

By Sandra J. Pennecke

Correspondent

As soon as Don Hall saw a photograph of Mildred Matter, he was smitten.

"That's all it took," said Don, 75. "I fell in love with her smile."

Back in 2004, Don, a widower, had turned to the Internet to find a lady friend. His first marriage ended in divorce after 23 years and his second wife died just 10 days shy of their 20th anniversary.

"I was lonely and depressed," said Don, who lived in Northern Virginia at the time. "This got me out of a funk."

Don had only been enrolled in the matchmaking site for a short time when Millie - widowed after more than 40 years of marriage - noticed Don's profile and was intrigued.

"I never thought I'd go online to meet that special someone," said Millie, now 80. She had searched for more than a year and even dated a couple of men she met online.

"My friends were scared to death and asked me, 'What if he's an ax murderer?'\" Millie said. But she trusted her own judgment and continued searching. In September 2004 she stumbled upon Don's profile.

They had a lot in common - a love for travel, shows, music and more. Online chats progressed to phone calls and before long, their romance began to blossom.

But first, Millie explained to Don that she had three very important questions for him: Do you smoke, do you drink and do you go to church?

Don responded "no" to the first two. Then Don, who admits he wasn't a churchgoing man at the time, told her he'd take her to church and pick her up afterwards.

Millie told Don she didn't need a driver and was ready to end the relationship there. But Don said he'd try - and an in-person meeting was arranged that same month.

"I drove down the road 80 miles an hour to get down here to her," Don said. Two more visits later, they became engaged. On June 11, 2005, just nine months after their lives first crossed online, the couple was wed at St. John's Baptist Church in Virginia Beach.

Now Don and Millie attend church together every Sunday and sing in the choir. She also sings with Virginia Voices International while he acts as the music curator.

They plan to repeat their vows, in the church, on their 10th wedding anniversary.

Sandra J. Pennecke, pennecke@cox.net

CAPTION(S):

Courtesy of Don and Mildred Hall

Don and Mildred Hall met online, hit it off and now they make beautiful music together as both spouses and singers.