According to an interview the couple gave to WDRW last year to celebrate their 70th anniversary, they met at a cafe when Herbert was 22 and Frances was 16.
“Francis worked at a little cafe we had in Waynesboro called White Way Cafe,” he told the newspaper. “I kept seeing her come in and out, in and out, and I laid my eyes on her. Then I finally got up to ask her if she could date me someday.”
After a year of dating, Herbert worked up the courage to ask Francis to spend the rest of their lives together.
“I asked her if she would agree to make me her husband, and she said of course.”
According to Herbert, the wedding was almost called off because they were an hour late for church.
“He was always late,” Francis explained.
Herbert’s obituary indicates that he served in the United States Army for 22 years as a master sergeant in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Frances even lived in Germany for six years to be close to her husband during World War II.
The couple are survived by six children, 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.