San Antonio – After 27 years for Craig and 25 years for Diana, the Opellas are hanging up their bus tickets and stepping into retirement. The couple, who met while working separate jobs before both joining VIA Metropolitan Transit, have spent nearly three decades serving the city’s riders.

A partnership built on the road

Both began as operators, with Craig eventually moving into a supervisory role. Diana recalls first noticing Craig’s “shiny, black leather shoes” when they were both on the riverboat and later at the Hilton, where she worked as a concierge. Their paths crossed again on VIA routes, leading to a romance that defied their own “no‑date‑at‑work” rule.

“I broke my #1 rule, which was, ‘Don’t date where you work!’” Diana laughed, noting that the couple kept their personal and professional lives separate. For fifteen years, “90% of the people we worked with didn’t know we were married,” Craig said, describing a low‑key engagement under a bridge in the Fine Silver parking lot and a courthouse wedding that surprised coworkers only after his name change.

Decades of service

Over the years, the Opellas logged more than a million miles behind the wheel, navigating San Antonio’s streets and meeting generations of passengers. “I still see kids I drove when I was an operator and now they have families,” Craig said, recalling a rider who once thanked him for getting them to school in the rain.

Both emphasized the discipline required to balance safety, schedules and family life. “It took a lot of discipline, both at home and mainly at work,” Craig noted, adding that their jobs demanded “timing” and attention to detail “30 seconds at a time” for two and a half decades.

Looking ahead

Retirement, for the Opellas, means more time with family and grandchildren, and the freedom to travel without a strict schedule. “It hasn’t hit me yet, but it is time,” Diana said. Craig summed up his tenure with a striking figure: “By the time I leave, it will be 9,979 days.”

Despite stepping away from daily routes, the couple plans to stay connected to VIA, a system they say they “fell in love with.” They will miss the camaraderie of coworkers and the ever‑changing rhythm of bus stops across the city.

Advice for coworkers

When asked about workplace relationships, Diana offered a measured perspective: “Go at your own speed but be responsible.” She highlighted the abundance of “great guys” and “women” at VIA, noting that long hours naturally bring people together.

The Opellas’ story underscores the value of dedication, community service and the personal bonds that can form when families and faith‑centered values guide everyday work. Their retirement marks the end of an era for VIA, but also a celebration of two lives spent in service to San Antonio’s neighborhoods.

Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.