Robert E. Rodgers Sr. and Donna R. Rodgers were united in marriage on June 13, 1964, at a little Baptist church in West Los Angeles, Calif. The couple resides in Martins Ferry.

Robert worked for the railroad from 1970-2005 out of Mingo Junction and retired after 35 years.

Robert is the son of the late Robert and Stella Rodgers.

He had one brother and six sisters while growing up in Benwood.

Donna is the daughter of the late Guy and Mable Young. She had two brothers and three sisters while growing up in Grafton, Ohio.

They met at work one day at Packard Bell in West L.A.

Robert said it was “love at first sight.” One year later, they were married. They went on to have one daughter, Ronda, and three sons — Robert, Ronnie and Ricky Rodgers.

Later, they relocated back to the Ohio Valley.

In 2014 on their 50th anniversary, they renewed their wedding vows at Hilton Head, S.C., where 48 family members attended including their children, spouses, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Their daughter, Ronda, performed at their service.

In 2014, Donna had a battle with cancer, and Robert remained right by her side.

Later she had a hernia surgery go bad, and she was fighting for her life. She spent four months in the hospital and more than 20 days in ICU. Robert slept in the waiting room the whole time he said, “if Donna is here, then so am I.”

In celebration of their anniversary, their children said, “God bless you mom and dad, we love you.”