Couple, Who First Met When They Were Just 4 Years Old, Shares Secret to Their Lasting Love After Almost 7 Decades of Marriage
Couple, Who First Met When They Were Just 4 Years Old, Shares Secret to Their Lasting Love After Almost 7 Decades of Marriage
Toria SheffieldSun, February 22, 2026 at 11:00 PM UTC
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Bob and Marilyn Ritchie
We Are Iowa Local 5 News
A Texas husband and wife, who have been married for nearly 70 years, are sharing the secret to their long-lasting love
Marilyn and Bob Ritchie wed in 1956 after dating for several years
They first met at just 4 years old and later reconnected in college
A Texas husband and wife, who have been married for nearly 70 years, are sharing the secret to their long-lasting love.
Marilyn and Bob Ritchie of Temple, a city in the central part of the state, first met when they were just 4 years old in their backyards in Minton, Calif., per a filmed interview with the couple for Local12.com.
They eventually lost touch but later reconnected in college.
“I said [to my friend] Todd, ‘Who was that dark-headed girl?’ He said, ‘Well, that’s Marilyn Lombard. And I said, 'I know her!' " Bob recalled during the interview — which evoked a laugh from Marilyn.
However, Bob, 90, ultimately joined the military.
“So we wrote letters back and forth for two years,” Marilyn, 91, told the outlet.
“Did I ask you to marry me by letter?” Bob asked her.
“Yes, you did. I still have it," she replied.
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The pair married in August 1956, and they say that humor and a romance founded on friendship is ultimately what has carried them through all these years.
“His sense of humor has gotten us through a lot of things,” Marilyn said. “He is very loving and romantic. He is my best friend.”
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“We are both best friends,” Bob chimed in.
The pair also said that continued communication and patience have been key to their relationship, per Local12.com.
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Marilyn and Bob also have a shared love of music, and have been singing together in their church choir since 1955.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
