- John and Charlotte Henderson of Texas are thought to be the world’s oldest living couple.
- They talked to the “Today” show on Friday to recall how they kept the romance alive after meeting and falling in love in 1934.
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The world’s oldest couple still make homemade valentines and enjoy a glass of wine together most nights.
John and Charlotte Henderson of Texas talked to NBC’s “Today” show on Friday about their love story to mark their 85th Valentine’s Day together.
It was love at first sight when the two were seated near each other in a University of Texas zoology class in 1934. Their first date involved going out to get Cokes.
“When I just saw her and got to talking to her, I don’t think I ever had another date after that one day in the class,” John, 107, said.
"Time does fly."
This Valentine’s Day, @JennaBushHager sits down with John and Charlotte Henderson, the world’s oldest married couple with an incredible love story. pic.twitter.com/R9bXrAj8zF
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 14, 2020
They were married five years later, in 1939, the same year World War II broke out. They had just two wedding guests present.
According to an October article in the Four Points News, Charlotte, 105, spent the early years of their marriage as a teacher, and John worked for Humble Oil, which later became Exxon (he retired from the company in 1972).
"We produced more than half of the explosives used by the Allies for World War II," he said.
The couple never had children, a fact John jokingly said might have aided their long life.
They've traveled around the world and have spent the past decade living in a retirement community in Austin. They said they still enjoyed a glass of wine together most nights.
When asked whether they still celebrated Valentine's Day, John said he made a homemade card for his wife every year.
"Oh yes, a little love note on it, yes,'' Charlotte said. "He's pretty romantic, when you get down to it."
Charlotte also has a flair for the romantic, and she shared a poem she wrote for her husband on their 22nd wedding anniversary, in 1961.
- Read more:
- World's oldest living person honored by Guinness Book of Records - she's 116, lives in Japan, and has a favorite board game
- The man who unlocked the world's secret to living to age 100 says you can skip the gym
- A 107-year-old New York woman credited her long life to staying single. Here's what 6 other centenarians had to say about their secrets to a long life - and whether they're backed by science.
- 'Biologically younger' people who defy their real age often have 5 things in common
