Sweethearts and Soulmates: Love Is in the Air Around the Valley for Valentine’s Day
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The Ohio Valley is full of couples who have been married for many years who plan to celebrate their love once again this Valentine's Day.
"Every day is Valentine's Day," for one couple from Belmont.
Mitchell and Nancy Toto celebrated their 64the wedding anniversary back in October. They got married on Oct. 1, 1960, and said their marriage has lasted more than 64 years because of their love, support and understanding of each other, not only in good times but in hard times, too. The pair enjoy an active lifestyle, a close circle of friends and an expanding family along with their faith in the Lord.
Another couple, Steve and Theresa Huml settled in St. Clairsville together with Steve hailing from Flushing and Theresa from McMechen. They're been together for almost 43 years and married for 41. The two got married on Valentine's Day in Theresa's kitchen, where their long love story began as two high school seniors.
The couple's marriage has lasted so long because they work as a team, they said. They enjoy the Valentine's Day feeling, and Theresa feels it's the day she married her best friend.
Steve won't be spending this Valentine's Day in prison, as he used to work as a corrections officer in the prison system for 35 years and had to stay on the job some Valentine's Days. But now he is retired and will spend the day with his wife.
The couple has a tradition of putting lighted double hearts in their window on Valentine's Day, and still cuddling and kissing like they did when they were younger. But now, the couple gets to celebrate with their children and grandchildren.
"It's also being crazy and fun, sneaking up on each other to scare each other and play around," Theresa said. "We never grew up. We are always doing spontaneous things and road trips and buying each other little things we think the other would like if we see something when we're out. We always put God first, and we're old school."
Married for 51 years, John and Joyce Paglialunga from St. Clairsville have traveled to many places during their love journey, including out West and overseas to Italy, Paris, London and Cuba. They don't go to bed mad at each other, don't judge each other, listen to one another and have separate TVs, which has made their marriage last more than 50 years.
The two like to surprise each other on Valentine's Day, but they also try to make each other feel special every day. This Valentine's Day, they plan to have dinner and relax.
"Celebrating each year of marriage and the thought, 'We hope we will grow old together fulfilling our dream,'" they said.
Janet and Frank Kinsey from St. Clairsville will celebrate their 39th anniversary today with dinner at Red Lobster. The couple has spent 39 years listening to each other, going to church every Sunday and doing activities together.
"Companionship is very important," Janet said. "Got to be best friends."
Kenny Hines, from St. Clairsville, and Linda Hines, from Holloway, both worked at Elby's in St. Clairsville -- Kenny as a cook and Linda as a carhop. After they met at work, the rest was history.
The pair just celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary Tuesday. They said a successful, long-lasting marriage requires a lot of give and take and love that keeps growing stronger every year.
The couple plan to go to one of their favorite restaurants, Tlaquepaque in St. Clairsville, and pick up chocolate covered strawberries at the Fat Apple Bakery in Bridgeport afterward to celebrate Valentine's Day.
Kenny loves to spend time with his "sweetheart" but had to work a lot of Valentine's Days over the years. But that doesn't stop them from spending time with each other now and loving one another.
Today, they love to spend time with their children and grandchildren and travel. Something the couple does for each other is whoever wakes up first in the morning makes coffee for the pair, and every day feels special to them.