80th Wedding Anniversary
 

Maine Couple to Mark 80th Anniversary
By Associated Press
Thu Mar 29, 4:00 PM

LUBEC, Maine - Kathleen Tarbell "fell head over my stomach" for her husband Waldo when they met at a dance. They married in 1927, during Calvin Coolidge's presidency. This weekend, they'll celebrate their 80th anniversary.

Waldo is 101 and Kathleen will turn 100 in June. The anniversary party will be Saturday afternoon at Oceanview Nursing Home, where the couple shares a large room.

Maine's Office of Vital Records could not immediately determine if the Tarbells' marriage is the longest in the state. The 2007 Guinness Book of World Records lists a Rhode Island couple wed for 83 years as having the longest marriage among living people.

Kathleen, a native of Pembroke, moved to Waldo's hometown of Meddybemps after they married. Two years later, they moved to Pembroke, where their two children, Helen Brown and Elliot Tarbell, were born.

Waldo and Kathleen lived in their home in Pembroke until a few weeks ago.

"I had to go to the hospital to have some X-rays taken. My back was killing me," Kathleen told the Bangor Daily News. After she was hospitalized, Waldo was moved to the nursing home and she later joined him.

For 37 years, Waldo worked for Maine Central Railroad, at a starting wage of 37 cents an hour. After their children were raised, Kathleen worked for 32 years as a "herring choker and wrapper" at sardine factories.

"Sometimes it'd be 10 o'clock at night before we'd get done. We'd go into work at eight in the morning. By the time we got home and got turned over in bed it was time to get up again," she recalled.

Kathleen has been a Democrat her entire adult life. Waldo, originally a Republican, turned Democrat. "She converted me," he said.

They remain up to speed on current events. Kathleen reads the newspaper every day, and she thinks the war in Iraq is "scandalous."

"Somebody ought to take Bush and wring his neck, and I might be the one to do it," she said with a sparkle in her eye.

I'm getting close to 30 years and it seems like forever. I can't even imagine 80! :lol:

Not married but over 14 yrs here. I just hope to live to 80 :lol:

I'm still working on 1! Long way until I break that record!

Great story!:thumb: They should get a medal from the president.she'd like to meet him!:lol:
We've been married I guess 14 years. Seems like no time at all. Can't wait for our eightieth:red: :eek: :nuts: :lol:

This August will be 46 years for me and my Bride.

wow that sure makes our upcoming 24th asnniversary pale in comparison... 25th anniverary in 2008 means "Big Party" I wonder how many HHRs we could get to show up at that one...hahahaha

Nearly up to 16 years with my wife. Though only married for the last 5.

Got a ways to go still and looking forward to every day of it!:thumb:

awww its good to hear that there is hope