Their love story began when another couple’s ended, and now they celebrate 50 years of wedded bliss. Funny how life happens, right?
“Gail’s girlfriend and my best friend were married to each other, but neither of us had met until the couple had been separated for awhile and were going through their divorce.”
It was a chance meeting that ended well for Gail and Marvin Smith. The two were together for about a year and a half before Marvin asked for her hand in marriage.
“I was over at Gail’s house and she had gone to bed,” states Marvin. “Her mom and I were talking over a few cocktails and she asked me if I was ever going to marry her daughter…So I asked Gail to be my wife the following day.”
Gail accepted his proposal and the two became husband and wife in 1964 at the First Baptist Church in Arleta. Just a year later the couple moved to the Santa Clarita Valley where they currently reside. They have three children.
“There are a lot of things I love about Gail. She’s very creative and talented, and a lot smarter than she thinks she is and knows how to work me,” states a smiling Marvin. “We are still young at heart and every Friday night is date night. We have a good time together.”
“Marv has a great sense of humor…he is always making me laugh and we really like everything we do together. It’s easy to love him,” states Gail.
The couple recently celebrated a milestone anniversary with a white Moroccan party. “Gail had always wanted a Moroccan party and I could never understand why, but it was on her bucket list, so we did it for our 50th wedding anniversary.” Complete with belly dancers, card readers, delicious food and more, friends and family celebrated their love with the couple at their home last month.
What’s the secret to success? “Each person has to support each other, and give 125 percent.”
Happy 50th Anniversary, Marvin and Gail!
