This is a tale of true love…not a fairy tale or make believe, but the absolute truth about two people.  Two of the best people I’ve ever known – and how they lived happily ever after.

Like most love stories, this one began with two young people.  It was the spring of 1938 when he, a strong and confident 21 year old, happened to meet a shy beautiful girl of 16 at a cake walk.  She arrived at the event, held at the home of the young man’s parents as a fundraiser for some badly needed baseball equipment, with her sister, future brother-in-law, and an unknown suitor.  As with all the best stories, it was love at first sight when our young couple met and he, not her date, drove her home that day.

A few months later our lovebirds married on the front porch at the home of the local Justice of the Peace – they had lots of love…and not much else.  The newlyweds moved in with his parents and began their life together.

This man, R.B. and his young wife, Estelle, very honestly started with nothing but love, and love was all they needed.  R.B. worked a government job during the day and, with the help of family and friends, built their first home after work and on the weekends.  During the next year they moved into their new house and welcomed their first child, a daughter.  R.B. believed in hard work and providing a safe haven for his family.  Estelle devoted her life to loving R.B. and their baby and making a comfortable home.  He was boisterous and opinionated, she was his biggest supporter.  Together, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

World War II came and separated Estelle and R.B., but their love endured.  Before long, they welcomed a second daughter and picked up life again with each other after the war.  R.B. built a bigger house for his growing family and by the time they moved there in 1956, they’d welcomed two sons.  This love story continued and, with the passing of time, this loving couple watched their children grow up and start families of their own.  Soon R.B. and Estelle became Papa and Tootsie to eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren and their love for each other grew along with their family.  Papa passed along his strength, wisdom, and work ethic.  Larger than life, he was a super hero who never ran out of energy or good stories.  Tootsie fussed and worried and offered comfort and encouragement – her gift was in making each member of the family feel special and cherished.

By 2016, R.B. and Estelle had been married for 77 years and were 99 and 94 years old.  They were constantly together, but growing tired.  They had unfailingly honored the commitment they’d made to each other back in 1938, by remaining steadfast in their love for each other first and foremost.  The power of this love, so strong and enduring, was a shining example to their family…there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish together.

In their final days, R.B. and Estelle sang to each other and each encouraged the other with words of love and support.  Surrounded by family and friends in the home they’d shared for more than 60 years, they left this earth just 12 hours apart on April 24th and 25th.  He, in his usual manner, led the way and she, as she’d done for three-quarters of a century, followed.  They loved so well, their love for each other spread to all who knew them.  I know because R.B. and Estelle were my mother and father-in-law for 27 years – I will never find a more perfect example of everlasting love.  I will always be proud and honored to have known them and been part of their story and I will do my best to carry on their legacy with my own family.

Of course, the most important part of this story is that from that very first day…

They lived Happily Ever After.