A couple with a 30-year age gap became engaged just ten weeks after swiping each other right on Tinder, and say they have never been happier.
Keith Richoux, 57, from New Orleans, Louisiana and Ashley Richoux, 26, from Mobile, Alabama are two peas in a pod – however, they both come from very different worlds.
Ashley works in the corporate world as an auditor accountant while Keith is an electrician, both coming from different walks of life – despite their notable differences, they instantly felt the spark the moment they laid eyes on each other.
Ashley said: “Well aside from the age gap: we are different races (he’s white, and I’m black) also some would say we are different classes because he’s more of a blue collar worker and I work in the corporate world.
“He’s a very rugged, casual guy, and I am a very prim and polished woman.
We met on an online dating app. Our relationship progress very quickly actually! “
“We’re both in love and very serious.”
The pair matched on online dating app, Tinder earlier in September.
Ashley was at first sceptical of Keith’s profile and said she “almost didn’t respond”, but was glad when she did.
She said: “Keith was very respectful when he reached out to me. He didn’t address me in an inappropriate way.
“So when we started chatting on the app it was very easy to talk to each other.”
Ashley and Keith decided to meet up for dinner the following day and had an instant connection, and began dating ever since in a whirlwind romance.
Just over two months since they met, Keith proposed to Ashley while during a romantic evening stroll by a lakefront.
The pair are now engaged and plan to live together by June this year, with wedding plans set for next year.
Speaking about the moment Keith popped the question, Ashley said: “We were walking along the lakefront and he was acting really weird.
“My son was with us and we were talking. All of a sudden, he stopped talking and I looked over/back to see why and he had stopped walking.
“He then got down on one knee and asked me.”
Keith said he was captivated by Ashley’s compassionate nature, and Ashley said she loves how Keith always has her back and is like a pillar of support to her.
Keith said: “I love her compassion for other people, she’s always able to at least try to see things from various viewpoints even if she does not agree.
Ashley added: “I love his genuine concern for me and anything I go through. I feel like he has my back no matter what and that I can depend on him. He’s just a really great man.
Despite their 30-year age gap, Ashley said their different ages allows them to complement each other and learn from each other.
She said: “Because of our being in different stages of our lives we are able to not only learn from one another, but also complement one another.
“He’s a baby boomer and I’m a millennial so we both view life (money, family, society, politics, etc.) completely different so being able to talk to someone you love about these topics and understand their thought process is great.
Keith said he now feels “younger” and has a new found zest for life since meeting Ashley.
He said: “I feel younger, more in tune with life. She has awoken a new zest for enjoying all that life is instead of just existing.”
Ashley, who has a child from a previous marriage, said Keith has embraced her son as his own as they prepare their wedding plans.
She said: “Prior to meeting Keith, I had ended a relationship and had kind of given up on the romantic aspect of life.
“Keith has pushed me to pursue anything I want to do instead of waiting. He’s embraced my son as his own and I don’t think I thought I could be his happy again.”
Their friends and family were incredibly supportive despite their age gap, however, Ashley’s mother took some time to get used to their relationship and after some conflict, they eventually came around.
Ashley said: “My friends were not surprised that I was with someone older, but Keith is the oldest man I’ve ever seriously dated so there was a little ‘wow factor’ there initially.
“My mom was not on board initially and there was some conflict but she has since come around and seems to truly embrace Keith. My father is not phased at all.”
Apart from the judgment and stares in public, the pair said their relationship comes with ups and downs just like everyone else.
Ashley said: “We get stares and double takes. Some people smile or smirk. We’ve had people have hushed conversations upon see us.
“I wish people would understand that our relationship is just like anyone else’s. We have ups and downs like everyone else. We are weird or freaks or anything. Some fears are just the unknown of life.
“Worrying about Keith leaving this earth before either one of us is ready due to him having a 30 head start on me.”
Ashley stressed the importance of being truthful from the beginning and ignoring anyone who is not concerned about your happiness.
She said: “Be truthful with each from the beginning. Don’t put unrealistic expectations on one another. Be happy. Ignore anyone who is not for your happiness.”
