Who Went Home on ‘Golden Bachelor’ Episode 2 after Widows’ Revelations?

Carole Glines

October 6, 2023 at 10:00 AM·5 min read

Gerry Turner

Widower Gerry Turner shared emotional moments with contestants who had also lost their spouses on Thursday night’s second episode of The Golden Bachelor.

As fans know, Gerry’s beloved wife Toni died suddenly in 2017 after they’d been together 43 years.

And on the show, viewers learned many of the women vying for his love also have gone through similar grieving.

Gerry found common ground with them, but also had to whittle down his group with a rose ceremony.

He sent three ladies home.

Read on to find out what unfolded on episode 2!

Who got Gerry’s first one-on-one date?

After they had chemistry on the premiere, Gerry sent a date card for Theresa, 70.

She was “thrilled beyond belief,” but also thinking about her late husband.

“I think I have a connection with Gerry, but Billy was the love of my life and can I find that again?” she asked cameras.

“I got married when I was 18 years old. He was drafted during the Vietnam War. He came home to be in his brother’s wedding and we got married on two days’ notice. Before my husband Billy died, he actually said to me, ‘I hope you do find someone. I hope you get married again. I know if he was here, he’d say, ‘Go for it, Theresa.’ “

How did the first one-on-one date go?

Gerry picked up Theresa in a classic convertible but their evening ride got scary when he noted, “My headlights aren’t working.”

Theresa consoled Gerry by rubbing his shoulder and saying, “You’re doing great” as he encountered aggressive Los Angeles drivers.

Over dinner at a 1950s-style diner, Theresa, rumored to be a show frontrunner, described her widowhood.

“I married my high school sweetheart. Sound familiar?” she asked Gerry, who had also done so.

“We were together since freshman year in high school. I was 14, he was 16 and we were married 42 years and he passed away," Theresa sighed. "What happened ultimately was that, his kidneys were not good and Billy always had the hope of a kidney transplant. One day when I was at work, he all of a sudden takes a turn for the worse and I ran home and I watched him take his last breath.”

Gerry said, “I am so sorry,” adding, “I know what the feeling is like.”

Theresa told him, “I’m so sorry your wife passed away” and said her husband had been gone almost nine years.

Gerry told cameras, “Theresa’s story was so similar to mine…I felt like I was talking to someone who understood the loss of a spouse.”

Both agreed that they had lots of friends but they were lonely.

“I don’t want to be alone,” Theresa agreed. “There’s no time to waste.”

Smitten Gerry said in confessional, “There’s a calm, there’s a peacefulness with Theresa.”

Then a flash mob of people danced in the diner to the Journey song, “Don’t Stop Believing” and the two joined in!

Gerry gave Theresa the date rose.

What happened during Gerry’s group date?

The former restaurant owner did a photo shoot with the other ladies, recreating romance novel cover-style scenes.

The costumes included wild '70s and ‘80s outfits and Gerry at one point rocked a long wig to look like Fabio!

But Nancy, 60, became overcome with emotion when she donned a wedding dress for photos and remembered marrying her late husband.

It had been the best day of her life when she married Mark and he’d been gone 12 years.

“I really miss him,” she sobbed in confessional.

Gerry later took Nancy aside and she explained her emotions.

He understood completely, as merely smelling cinnamon reminded him of his late wife Toni’s Christmas cooking.

Gerry later awarded Nancy the group date rose.

What did Leslie show Gerry?

The Golden Bachelor told Leslie he was impressed with how she carried herself.

But bold Leslie, 64, showed a vulnerable side, too, letting Gerry know that she wore hearing aids—just like him!

He whispered in her ear and Leslie decided to keep his sweet nothings private.

How did Gerry celebrate his birthday?

Gerry turned 72 during the show's filming, and the ladies organized a surprise party for him with cake, a barbecue and miniature golf at the mansion.

Gerry drove up to the mansion on his birthday.<p>ABC/John Fleenor</p> — Gerry drove up to the mansion on his birthday.
ABC/John Fleenor

Faith, 60, won the first impression rose on the premiere but worried she was falling behind.

Beautiful blonde Joan, 60, told Gerry about how her ill husband had given her his blessing to find someone else after he died.

He did pass away—and she and Gerry agreed people must go on living after loss. They embraced.

Gerry made Ellen, 71, feel special by giving her a framed photo of them from the shoot.

What happened during the rose ceremony?

The star told the competitors, “I have strong feelings for all of you.”

Gerry had already given date roses to Theresa and Nancy. At the ceremony, he also handed roses to Leslie, Joan, Edith, Ellen, Sandra, Susan, Christina, Faith, April, and Kathy. He got teary-eyed eliminating others.