By Alicia Draus

Couple celebrates 72 years of marriage

Feb 14, 2017 | 4:14 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Valentine’s Day is for people to celebrate those they love. But the love goes far beyond just one day for a local couple. Martha and Gordon Wilson are both 96 years old and will be celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary tomorrow.

“I think we were about four or five miles apart, she was on a farm, I was on a farm, I guess that’s where we met,” said Gordon.

“I was living away from home, I’d come home on Sunday and then he was visiting our family,” said Martha.

“I thought he was pretty good looking,” she added with a laugh.

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Gordon was in the army, but took leave to marry Martha. The couple lived in Saskatchewan but came over to Medicine Hat for the wedding. The pair married at the United Church and spent the night at the Cecil Hotel. After that Gordon says he brought Martha back to Petawawa where he was based during the war.

“She was the only girl I’ve ever had,” he said.

As for how to make the marriage last, Martha says it’s important to have things in common. In their early days they both loved to dance. Now they enjoy playing crib, watching TV and spending time with family.

The two say while they’ve had a happy marriage, they’ve gone through their ups and downs.

“You take 72 years you’re going to have disagreements if you don’t there’s something wrong, and we had them but they don’t last.  We love one another,” said Gordon.

As for how to overcome disagreements, Gordon has some advice for other couples.

“Give in, say yeah, yeah, you’re right,” he said with a laugh. He added though that while sometimes he gives in, other times Martha would give in.

As for their happiest memories together, Martha says it was having their three children. Since then their family has grown even more. The couple has six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who range from 21 years old to only 13 months.

The couple will be celebrating their anniversary tomorrow at their home surrounded by those they love.