BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Some couples in Vermont have been together for over six decades and are still going strong.
Roughly 60 years ago, the world was a different place. The Beatles were on top of the world, the Vietnam War was near, and the first Super Bowl was still a few years away.
At the same time, three couples were tying the knot and are still together today in Vermont. Our Melissa Cooney got the chance to learn about how married couples have made it work for over six decades.
Forrest and Bobbi Randall’s story begins with a spark in a college cafeteria over 60 years ago. “I don’t know why but she threw a wet towel at me,” said Forrest.
The duo has been inseparable ever since. They say they’ve enjoyed bike trips and cross-country skiing when they weren’t working as a kindergarten teacher or in the dairy industry. “It’s an amazing thing because the time has gone very, very fast,” said Forrest Randal.
Time flies when you’re having fun, a sentiment Dave and Karen Anderson agree with as they reflect on their 62 years, after meeting at a college pool party. “I was a city girl. He was from a farm community. And he just said we would live in the country. So we met 10 miles out into the woods,” said Karen Anderson.
And if 62 years of marriage isn’t Impressive enough -the duo survived working as business partners at a building materials company for 15 years. “It wasn’t that hard. I had the inside with the wallpaper, paint, and carpeting. He had the lumber in the backyard. All his toys,” said Karen Anderson.
Also spending time at Strode is John and Judith Graham, married 60 years. This duo was set up on a blind date, only to realize they went to high school together.
“He’s interested in the same thing as I am. That’s good. He’s a wonderful father,” said Judith Graham. The couple bonds over their love of music, and theatre, and enjoy sharing books.
They’ve traveled all over the country, living in Pittsburgh, Ohio, Illinois, and Vermont. The duo says they loved camping and hiking when their kids were younger. “We feel very lucky to be here to be still together,” said Judith
So, what’s the secret to 60-plus years together? When it gets hard “He keeps his sense of humor,” said Bobbi.
“never go to bed angry. We had one three o’clock morning before we got to bed. But other than that usually got talked out,” said Karen.
“we both Have a mindset that we don’t give up easily,” said John.
And the three couples say it helps to have a strong admiration for your partner. “She thinks about others more than she thinks about herself,” said Forrest
“She’s just a phenomenal partner. Couldn’t ask for a better mother. Just every meaning of the word partner. And every sense of the word,” said Dave.