TRACY, Calif. — Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love and what better example than a Tracy couple who’s been married for almost SEVEN decades.
Roger and Linda La Presle – both 84 – say their love has continued to grow as they get older.
The couple says they knew they were meant to be within minutes of seeing each other.
"I looked at her and said, ‘This is someone special.’ I leaned over to a friend of mine and said, ‘I'm going to marry that girl someday.’ I didn't know her name or anything about her,” said Roger.
Now, decades later, the couple lives together at the Brookdale Tracy senior living community but they were first together in Hawaii after Linda moved to be closer to her brother.
Roger was in the Navy and working near the shore while stationed there.
"They had free dinners for the sailors because it was right near Pearl Harbor, so I volunteered to go with my friends to there and Roger walked in and I was just taken by his appearance, his shirt,” said Linda.
Three weeks later, Roger asked Linda to marry him, though the engagement was bittersweet. The couple was only together for a few months when Roger was assigned to ship out on duty.
In his absence, the couple had to learn to communicate well, something they say has made their relationship last.
"Our goals or things we did; we consulted each other and even today I don't make any decision without thinking of him. I mean, I don't need his input on if we're going to have chili tonight or spaghetti but I know what he likes and I'll go towards what he likes,” said Linda.
They were married Aug. 11, 1960. Since then, their belief is each person has to put in 100% into the relationship.
"Yes, we have had struggles, yes we have. But we always put each other first and we did not make a decision on what I wanted or what she wanted. We made a decision on what would be right for both of us,” said Roger.
Those decisions have led to them being together for 64 years. They share their love with three children, 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
"What are we going to do that's special? We'll look at each other, give each other a hug and a kiss say, ‘I love you,’ and say, ‘Happy Valentine's Day,’ and that's it. I mean after 64 years, what else do I have to do to prove it,” said Roger.
They plan to celebrate with a special dinner at Brookdale Tracy. Their advice to other people is to lead by example and share with your children what makes a marriage work.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: California couple gets married on Valentine's Day
