A sad follow up
Earlier, I shared a story about a couple’s secret to a long marriage. The couple, Percy & Florence Arrowsmith, had been married 80 years on the first of June this year. News came today that Mr. Arrowsmith died, peacefully at his home, at the age of 105. The couple’s love and strong marriage never wavered.
“He can’t settle down if I’m not holding his hand,” Mrs Arrowsmith was quoted as saying last month.
Asked for their secret, Florence said you must never be afraid to say “sorry.”
Mr. Arrowsmith leaves behind his wife, Florence, three kids, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
This couple caught the world’s attention when they celebrated their 80th wedding anniversary thus setting a Guinness World Record. The official website for Guinness World Records has this entry:
Longest marriage - living couple
Percy George Arrowsmith (UK b. 13 March 1900) and Florence Mary Dallimore (UK b. 31 October 1904) were married on 1 June 1925 at St Peter’s Church, Hereford, Herefordshire, UK, and have been married for 79 years 353 days as of 19 May 2005. The couple met at their local church where he sang in the choir and she was the Sunday school teacher.
The Times Online reports that the Arrowsmith’s hold another record.
With a combined age of 205, they also hold the title for “oldest married couple’s aggregate age”.
I failed in my search at the Guinness website. I will link it if I or anyone else finds it!
Updated Links:
Queen congratulates couple married for 80 years
Husband in World’s Longest Marriage Dies at 105
World’s oldest married man dies
Secret to wedded bliss — saying sorry