Winona Couple To Celebrate 70 Years Of Marriage Sunday
Winona Couple To Celebrate 70 Years Of Marriage Sunday
Posted
Jackie Gorski-jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Winona Couple To Celebrate 70 Years Of Marriage SundayWINONA LAKE – Dick and Reva Anderson attribute communication and their faith in God as contributing factors as to why their marriage has lasted as long as it has, as they will celebrate their 70th anniversary Sunday.
They were married Jan. 1, 1953.
Dick said in Indiana, when farmers would harvest the wheat, a lot of times, they would rent a tent and have an outdoor revival meeting.
Dick spoke to the conference leader of a denomination that doesn’t exist any more. The leader told him of a church in Spencerville that was going to close and Dick said he’d take the position.
When he got there, the farmers had rented a tent to have a revival meeting and Reva was in a trio that sang during the revival. When the service was over, Dick said Reva had a big smile on her face.
“And I said, ‘I’m going to get her.’ And I did,” Dick said. Six weeks later, he gave her a ring and six weeks after that, they were married. They have three children.
Reva said they never thought they’d make it to 70 years. Dick said he stands in awe of being married 70 years. If he had to do it all over again, he said he’d do the same thing and Reva said she feels the same way.
Dick worked as a pastor and Reva worked with him in the churches, serving as secretary, playing the organ and being junior choir director.
They moved to Winona Lake 10 years ago, having previously lived in Fort Meyers, Fla., after one of their sons took over the church they had they started there in 1971.
The couple talked about why their marriage has lasted as long as it has.
“We like to share with each other and talk things over and pray about everything,” Reva said. “It’s been a long 70 years, but it’s been a good 70 years.”
“We’ve always shared a common faith, too. It’s always been big with us. We’re both committed Christians and it’s been part of our lives, all of our lives, both of us,” Dick said.
“And the Bible says that women are a to be a good support to men and I wouldn’t be what I am without her,” Dick said.
Dick thinks the closer you are to God, the closer you are to each other and believes that’s the way their marriage has been.
Dick’s advice to those who just got married or are thinking about getting married is to know what you’re doing.
“I’ll always say that every relationship is better if God is in it,” adding that if a couple didn’t have God with them, he’d try to introduce God to them.
“I do feel sorry for them. Not because I’m right, but because I believe the Bible, every word of it. And I’m sure not perfect, but I try to live by it,” he said.
Communication is also key.
Dick said he and Reva have talked about everything and have done so throughout their marriage. He said if you’re going to pout off in a corner, you’re never going to have a marriage. Communication helps a couple be honest with each other.
Dick said anniversary plans are “to be as quiet as we can.”
