You don’t need to search beyond Porter County to discover authentic Valentine’s love stories.
George and Ruie Moran have resided in Valparaiso for 26 years, but the majority of their 66-year marriage was spent in Chicago, where they both worked as schoolteachers.
George, aged 92, reminisced, “I spotted her at a dance, a common social activity back in those days, and mustered the courage to invite her for a dance.” Reflecting on a prior encounter, he added, “About a week earlier, unbeknownst to her, I saw her on a bus heading to a modeling lesson.”
“She looked stunning,” George recalled. “I remember thinking to myself, this lady is truly remarkable.”
Ruie, aged 90, shared her perspective, “I had noticed him even before he asked me to dance. While I played the piano in my living room, he would be out playing football within my view.”
“After that dance, I never danced with anyone else,” Ruie confessed. “I was completely enchanted.”
During their courtship, George was drafted into the military. “I was eager to tie the knot promptly, but he was practical, so we waited,” Ruie explained.
The couple exchanged vows on August 24, 1957, at St. Felicitas Church in Chicago, followed by a reception at the Del Prado hotel and a honeymoon at the Edgewater Beach Hotel.
“Our enduring happiness is rooted in our strong faith and our commitment to resolving issues promptly without carrying them forward,” Ruie shared. “We always make amends and never sleep on an argument.”
Ruie humorously added, “Having two televisions really helps too.”
Reflecting on their early days, George recalled, “Our first apartment had only one bedroom, so we let the children have it, and we slept on a mattress in the hallway. When you’re in love, even a haystack feels comfortable. You face challenges together and emerge stronger.”
Ross and Phyllis Blythe, residents of Valparaiso, celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary, but their journey to marriage was swift.
Phyllis, 84, recollected, “Our courtship progressed so rapidly that I can’t pinpoint how it all unfolded. We went on our first date in September and tied the knot in January.”
“He claims I pursued him until he caught me, and there’s some truth to that,” Phyllis chuckled. “I sang in the choir, and he played the organ in church, always there, waiting for me.”
Ross, 89, shared his initial attraction, “Her beautiful voice captivated me. Sometimes after choir practice, she would need a ride home, and I gladly offered.”
Ross, who previously led Blythe’s Grocery Store in Hammond, shared, “My wedding was a joyous occasion for everyone who had watched me grow up in the neighborhood.”
Their wedding, held at a church in Indiana Harbor, was attended by over 300 guests and featured a cake and punch reception.
Phyllis, a retired school secretary, and Ross, a former Professor of Education, emphasized the importance of friendship in their enduring 61-year marriage. They bonded over shared interests like music.
Ross advised young couples, “Marriage is about compromise. Learn to coexist, forgive, and move forward.”
Deena Lawley-Dixon contributes as a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.