Mormon couple celebrates 75 years of true love, faith
By Erica Palmer; Erica Palmer Deseret News | |
Proquest LLC |
Charles knew Gloris was the one from the moment he first saw her getting off the bus in high school.
"I remember exactly when we met each other,"
Charles and Gloris Goff, 92 and 93, sat side by side in their home in
The Goffs have lived a life full of service, beginning with
"I think anybody could enjoy the diamond anniversary if they just decided that's what they were going to do,"
The Goffs, both natives of
"It's always been kind of natural, hasn't it, Gloris?"
Goff remembers the day he proposed to his wife after they had dated for a few years. He said it was nothing elaborate.
"I didn't get on my knees," he said. "I think we were riding in the car, and (I) just decided that we knew each other well enough, we ought to get married."
But their life as newlyweds wasn't just young, blissful love.
A couple of years after they had their first child, Goff decided to enlist to fight in
"My friend and I ... decided that we ought to do something to help the war effort out," he said. "We decided that someday we were going to have to tell our kids what we did during the war."
"I wasn't too happy,"
His later careers took him through many different business ventures, from financial planning to weapon manufacturing to building log homes. The Goffs' son,
"We've done a lot of things," he said. "As long as we've lived, we've done almost everything there is to do."
But most of all, the couple's lives have been characterized by service in their family and in the
"(Dad) would get back (from work) late Saturday and get up at 4 or
When it comes to raising children, the Goffs have had their share of difficulties. But they abide by the doctrine of love.
"Just love them,"
"Being a member of the church is everything," he said. "We've always had responsible positions in the wards and stakes, and we've tried to do our duty. And we've sure been blessed."
After the Goffs returned to
"The love of the gospel has allowed them to have a really strong relationship together," he said. "I think they have always been best friends, from the time they were very young."
"They have always been just two peas in a pod," said the Goff's granddaughter,
The elder Goff said one piece of advice he used to give to new couples who were about to be sealed together is to be considerate of each other.
"There is some general advice that everyone should understand, and that's kindness and consideration for other people," he said. "Remember, marriage is a 50-50 proposition. Be nice to your wife. That's most important because she sure is nice to me."
He said jokingly, "If we have any disagreements, we decide to do it the way she wants to." His wife laughed, and he admitted that he doesn't actually remember ever having a disagreement with her.
After 75 years of marriage, the couple are still very much in love. When asked about their favorite things about each other,
Her husband said, "I just love her all over."
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: erica_palmer
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