Lyle, aged 108, and Eleanor Gittens, aged 107, an American couple, have achieved a remarkable milestone, breaking records with their enduring love story. With a combined age of 216 years and 132 days, they are recognized as both the oldest living married couple and the oldest married couple ever (aggregate age), as reported by the Guinness World Record.
Their journey began in 1941 when they met as students at Clark Atlanta University. Convinced they were meant to be together, they married the following year.
Despite the looming possibility of Lyle being drafted to serve in World War II, a concern for many young men and their families at the time, the couple remained steadfast in their commitment to one another. They chose not to postpone their lives for the war, instead deciding to forge ahead and officially set a date for their wedding.
The couple officially tied the knot on June 4, 1942. The timing was tight, as the ceremony was only possible because Lyle was granted a brief three-day pass from his ongoing military training. This year, the remarkable couple celebrated their 83rd wedding anniversary, a testament to their enduring love and commitment across more than eight decades.
This extraordinary milestone places them in contention for a significant world record: the longest marriage for a living couple (different sexes). This coveted title was recently vacated following the passing of the previous record holder, Manoel Angelim Dino, who, along with his wife Maria de Sousa Dino of Brazil, had held the record until just last month. Their 83-year union now positions them to potentially take the place of the Dinos in the record books.
When Lyle was sent to Italy to serve with his Army unit, the 92nd Infantry Division, Eleanor supported her husband by working in payroll for an aircraft parts company, and they maintained their connection through letters. However, military mail clerks heavily censored their correspondence, redacting most of Lyle’s words.
After the war ended, the couple were finally free to start their life together. They moved to New York City and expanded their family, welcoming daughters Angela and Ignae, who joined their older son, Lyle Rogers, born during the war.
Lyle and Eleanor later secured government employment after passing the New York civil service exam and enjoyed the experience of working side-by-side.
Eleanor went on to earn a doctorate in Urban Education from Fordham University when she was 69, and they both remained active members of the Clark Atlanta University Alumni Association for decades.
One of the couple’s children told The Westside Gazette, “As their middle child, I can attest that they were great parents. They stressed the value of education and exposed us to the many cultural institutions that New York City has to offer. They had little money but were resourceful in finding free or low-cost options – children’s opera, matinee theater, museums, community program dance classes, etc. In pursuing her career advancement, my mother found ways to spend quality time with us; for example, when she was taking courses towards her master’s, she would take one of us with her to have one-on-one time to and from the school, about an hour each way.”
The centenarian couple’s daughter, Angela, relocated them to Miami so they could be near her. Although Lyle misses his cherished New York, they are content living together in Miami.
When asked by LongeviQuest’s Ben Meyers for the secret to their long and happy marriage, Eleanor’s response was, “We love each other.” Lyle simply added, “I love my wife.”
