Louise and Harry Burkitt spent Valentine's Day celebrating 72 years of marriage. They were the grand prize winners of the London Post Office's Valentine's Day celebration to find the longest-married couple in the London zip code. (Kevin Dye/The Madison Press)

Valentines for 72 years

KAREN DANIELS
Press Staff Writer
Published February 15, 2002 2:40 PM CST

LONDON -- For Valentine's Day, a 94-year-old man tucked a folded piece of pink paper in an envelope and sealed it with a kiss before inscribing, "To my one and only Valentine."

Inside, to his wife of 72 years, he wrote: "Have I told you lately that I love you? Well darling, I'm telling you now. I love you. If I knew the words I would sing it to you. As ever, Harry."

It's their kind words, sticking to a commitment they made more than 70 years ago, their trust in God, the importance of family and a sprinkling of humor that has kept the pair together and falling more in love with each passing year.

Harry and Louise Burkitt not only celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday, but the anniversary of the day he proposed. They married less than a month later on March 12, 1929, in the Pike County courthouse in Waverly.

Louise explained that the pair was just teen-agers when they met. She was 16. He was 19.

"We were at church that day," she said. "We didn't go together then."

Harry added with a twinkling smile that they weren't dating, but he did have his eye on her.

It wasn't anything special that brought them together, possibly she was walking along the road (back in a time and place with few automobiles) and he gave her a lift. But, he said more than likely was that they visited while attending an older brother's wedding two years prior to their own marriage.

"You remember the date though don't you?" Harry asked his wife about their proposal. "Valentine's Day is the anniversary of when I asked. Remember that?

"I said I think we better go get married. We were married less than a month later."

With a coy smile, Louise looked at her husband and said, "I guess I said yes."

What was it about the other that made them think they had found the person to share the rest of their lives?

"Well, she's a pretty good cook and I like to eat," Harry answered.

Louise said it was "just everything, I guess." She said he's her best friend.

"We've had a few little spats," Harry said. "Now don't say we didn't. It worked out OK.

"We don't have any secrets. We stayed committed. We trust in God. That's the main one, I guess. God's done a good job looking after us. We have to give him credit for taking care of us."

Family has always been an important component of their relationship. The couple has seven children, 22 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

After spending 14 years in Florida, they moved back to Madison County to be closer to their large extended family with whom they continue to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and holidays. Harry even served as the best man for his grandson's wedding a couple of years ago.

Throughout the years Louise and Harry have also kept their own hobbies. Shelves are full of bowling trophies she has won over the years and books he enjoys reading. He's a history buff, particularly fond of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln. Her paintings fill the walls and capture memories of days gone by. Both like to get outdoors and garden when they can.

The Burkitts spent their pre-retirement years working at the same company. He spent 24 years and she spent 25 years making roller bearings at the Timken Company in Columbus.

"We've done some silly things, too many to count," Harry chuckled, adding that his notes are just one of those things. "There have been a lot of memories. Too many to pick out just one (favorite.)"

Their daughter, Valda Hunter, said her parents have left a legacy with their children.

"Once you make a commitment you make a commitment. If there's a problem you work it out. In the long run you forget what the problem was, but you remember the commitment."

Having been married 50 years herself and with one brother married 50 years and another married close to 55 years, Valda said that is what her parents have taught them.

"I guess we must've started something," Harry said proudly.

Karen Daniels can be reached at (740) 852-1616 or by e-mail at news6@madison-press.com

COPYRIGHT ® 2002 The Madison Press, Central Ohio Printing Corporation, All rights reserved.

The information contained herein is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. The copyright laws prohibit any copying, redistributing, retransmitting, broadcasting or repurposing of any copyright-protected material.