SAND SPRINGS, Okla. — A Green Country couple won a national search for America's Longest Married Couple.
The Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a national faith-based non-profit honored Orvel and Virginia Sherrill at Green Tree Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sand Springs Friday afternoon.
"It doesn't hurt to say I love you quite often," says Orvel Sherrill.
When you've been married 80 years, that's a lot of I love yous.
"I'm 98, and she's 96. We've been blessed in our life beyond words," says Orvel.
The Sherrills now live in Green Tree Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sand Springs, but their love story began when they were teenagers in Wagoner County. That's when Virginia moved into the farm next door to Orvel.
"She was bringing in the laundry that day. It was in the fall," says Orvel.
"My sister said, do you see that good-looking guy by the fireplace? And I said yeah, I'll probably marry him someday," Virginia says.
The two married on July 3, 1942. They were teenagers who used creative math to get their marriage license.
"I fudged a little on mine and Virginia's age to tell them we were 18," Orvell said. "I was really 17, and Virginia was 15. This was July 3. And on August 17, she would turn 16, and on October 14, I would turn 18 and had to register for the draft."
World War II was underway. Just as Orvel entered the service, his firstborn entered the world.
"I reported for the military on June 21, 1943. and the next day, June 22, at 4 o'clock, our daughter Gloria was born, and I didn't get to see her for about two weeks. Virginia came down to Fort Sill, and I got to see her for the first time. Then our son, Ward, was born when I was in France. Then we have a peacetime girl, Barbara, too."
The Sherrills have three children, seven grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
"That's five generations of us," says Orvel.
Devoted parents, Orvel and Virginia, share a strong faith and work ethic. Orvel spent 40 years working for PSO working his way up to Director of Transportation. He was also a volunteer firefighter until he was 80 years old. Virginia loves to crochet and paint. She worked various jobs in factories, for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and also as a Cafeteria and Church chef.
"Virginia's a good cook. I thanked her for every meal I ate," says Orvel.
Together they made their home in Sand Springs.
"We've been told from those who have researched it that we are the longest-married couple in Oklahoma," says Orvel.
Now the Sherrills can add to that list. They've been named the national winners of the Longest Married Couple Project.
Dick Baumbach with the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a faith-based non-profit, came up with the nationwide search 12 years ago.
"The way that it works is that it's only done by nominations. We know there could be people who have been married much longer, but they weren't nominated," says Dick Baumbach.
This year, the Sherrills were married the longest of around eighty entries.
"It's to show young couples that marriage can go the distance and it's possible," says Baumbach.
The Sherrills are proof. Eighty years since they walked down the aisle, these sweethearts still walk through life together.
"It's just more fun to be in love and be happy!" says Orvel.
So what's their secret?
"Keep an open conversation, be honest, and don't have any secrets," says Orvel.
And don't forget those three simple words.
"I love you... I love you," Virginia and Orvel say to each other.
The Sherrills are the 13th winners of the Longest Married Couple Project, and the organizers tell us they are also the youngest. The couples who have won in the past are in their 100s. To learn more about the Worldwide Marriage Encounter, click here.
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