Renate married Louis when she was only 19-years-old. They spent 12 years together before splitting up and going their separate ways.
But, what Renate didn't know at the moment was that her ex-husband wasn't planning to leave her alone, and it took her 43 years to realize that he had been stalking her this entire time.
Meet Renate Stumpf
Renate Stumpf worked at a local Walmart store as a Walmart greeter. The 75-year-old spent her days chatting with customers and helping them find products.
She had been married twice. Her first marriage ended in divorce, and her second marriage ended when her husband passed away.
She Used Facebook
Like many people her age, Renate frequently posted photos and shared updates on her Facebook. Her privacy settings were set to public, so anyone could see the places she visited and where she worked.
Unbeknownst to Renate, her ex-husband, with whom she wasn't friends on social media, had been keeping up with all of her updates. And one day, she received an unexpected message from him.
She Got A New Job
Renate started working as a Walmart greeter to get out of the house more and make new friends. Ever since her husband passed away, she had been feeling lonely and isolated.
And of course, when she found out that she had been hired, she turned to Facebook to share the good news. Little did she know how much she was going to regret this decision later.
Her Ex-Husband Showed Up
Renate's ex-husband was living hundreds of miles away from her. But that didn't stop him from visiting her workplace.
One day, while the woman was busy chatting with the customers, her ex-husband came up behind her, holding a bizarre sign. The words that came out of his mouth shocked her to the core.
Louis Demetriades
Her ex-husband, Louis Demetriades, lived in Tennessee and was the same age as her. Renate said he was a "stubborn husband," and they "argued about every little thing."
When she met her future husband, they were both 18 years old. "I was working in the kitchen at the army base, and he was a soldier. The first time I ever saw him, he asked me if I could fix him a hamburger. He liked who he saw, so he asked to go help me out in the kitchen," she said.
Their Marriage Didn't Work
After a few years, they both realized that their marriage wasn't working. "We had little financial support," Renate recalled. "I didn't know anything, and I could barely speak English."
After the divorce, Louis and Renate both got remarried shorty and started a family. However, after his wife passed away, Louis began missing his first wife and decided to reach out to her.
After 43 Years
When Renate's coworkers saw her ex holding this sign, they couldn't believe their eyes. How did he know she worked here?
Louis had traveled all the way from Memphis, Tennessee to Fort Smith, Arkansas, to surprise her with this sign. Renate hadn't talked to him in years, and she couldn't understand what was so urgent that he had to come into her workplace.
Will You Marry Me?
When she turned around, she instantly recognized her ex-husband, who was holding a strange sign to get her attention.
His sign read, "Happy Valentine's Day! Will you marry me?" Both Renate and Louis still had feelings for each other even after so many years apart. So, what was her response?
"Hey Good Lookin"
Louis said, "Hey, good lookin'," and Renate's heart melted. She was so happy to see that her ex-husband still hadn't forgotten about her after so many years apart.
And she felt the same way about him! She was so excited that she ran up to her co-workers and hugged them. Her manager also witnessed this beautiful moment. And it just so happened that their second engagement occurred on Valentine's Day!
She Was Surrounded By People Who Loved Her
“She has so many friends here, and I knew she would like to share that with them,” Louis said.
That's why he decided to propose to her in a crowded place and make as big of a scene as he could. But was Renate impressed with his proposal?
They Both Had Feelings For Eachother
Renate had only been talking to Louis for three months prior to the proposal, but they both had strong feelings for each other.
"When we saw each other again last December, we knew right then we still loved each other for sure," she said. "That love has never passed."
She Was Shocked
It took Renate a few minutes to process what had just happened to her. She wasn't planning to get married again, but Louis had changed her mind.
However, she didn't answer his question right away.
She Made Him Wait For Her Answer
"Forty-three years is a long time to say 'yes' right away," she told ABC News.
"I'm going to have to test him a little bit first! I will marry him, though, because he's a good man."
They Aren't In A Rush
When asked when the wedding would take place, Renate said, "There's no rush at my age. God put us together again, and it couldn't be any other way after all these years."
At first, Renate declined Louis's offer, but then she clarified what she meant by saying, "Yes, but not today!"