Travis and Valmae Ayres have been at each other's side for three quarters of a century as husband and wife.
And they are still side by side at Atria Sutton Senior Living Center for a special 75th anniversary dinner. Looking at Travis now, most people would only see a 103-year-old man "resting his eyes" through much of the excitement, but Valmae still sees the handsome young soldier she married.
"Some days he just looks at me and smiles, " she said. " And I remember the first time I saw him."
He was in the Army and stationed in Australia during World War II when she turned him down for a ball because she already had a date.
Terri Harmon is executive director of Atria Sutton. She recounted the story of how the couple ended up together.
"At the actual ball, he booted out her date. He said he knew that day, " said Harmon. "75 years later. Pretty neat."
They tied the knot after dating less than four months. She was 20 and he was 28. Besides commitment, Valmae said marriage needs flexibility to thrive.
"'If you plan too much, it gets to be too much pressure, " she said. "The best thing is don't plan so
much. Just take it easy and it will work."
Valmae said it also requires a lot of faith.
"You will always have the choice between rain and a rainbow. Take the rainbow."
