The story of Lyle Gittens108 years old, and Eleanor Gittens107, seems to come straight from a story. They have been together since 1942 and have just been recognized for it Guinness World Records as the oldest living married couple in the world and also the oldest married couple in history. Eight decades after their wedding, they still accompany each other, look lovingly at each other and hold hands like they did on the first day.
Their story began in the hallways of Clark Atlanta Universityin the early 1940s. Lyle was a standout basketball player, a central figure on the varsity team and a dedicated student who soon caught his attention. In a recent interview with longevityShe confessed that she doesn’t even remember the outcome of the meeting where she saw him for the first time, she only remembers the feeling of being madly in love. Years later, he was inducted into the institution’s Basketball Hall of Fame.
The first years of their relationship were disrupted by World War II. Even though they knew Lyle would be drafted into service, they planned their wedding for that June 4, 1942. The Army only gave him a three-day pass to travel from Fort Benning, Georgia, to Bradenton, Florida, their hometown. What is striking is that Lyle only met Eleanor’s family at this celebration.
In an interview with The Westside GazetteEleanor said that after saying goodbye to him, she thought about it every day “I would see him again” Or die on the battlefield of one of humanity’s longest and most hostile wars. As the war progressed, Lyle was sent to Italy with the 92nd Infantry Division. Pregnant Eleanor moved to New York, where she met her husband’s family. and got a job on the payroll of a company that manufactured aviation parts.
During this entire period, the only communication between them was letters, which were almost completely censored through military mail. Eleanor remembered that sometimes there were more strikeouts than there were visible words to read. When the conflict was over, they met again and were able to start planning their family together.
So the two settled in New York, where their three children were born: Lyle Rogers, Angela and Ignae. Starting a large family was not an easy task in these times, also because there were hardly any jobs due to the impending arrival of the soldiers. However, both of them passed the civil service exam and got government jobs.
Although they soon became a wealthy family in the United States, the world’s oldest couple recalls that they barely had time to see each other because of the long work hours. To avoid friction, Lyle suggested performing a magical ritual at the end of the day. He made two martinis, one for each of them, and they shared a quiet moment together, talking about everything they had experienced that day.
Their love of learning was another thing they had in common since they were young. Eleanor got it Doctor of Urban Education He graduated from Fordham University at age 69 and the couple remained active in the Clark Atlanta Alumni Association for decades. They were also part of the International Congress of Caribbean Archeology, which took them to various countries and made the island of Guadeloupe their favorite travel destination in the world.
Eight decades after that “yes,” the question that inevitably arises for anyone who knows her is: What is the secret to sustaining love over a long period of time? 83 years? Eleanor summed it up like this: “We love each other”. True to his style, Lyle completed: “I love my wife”.