NEW CASTLE —
Martha Shannon admits she wasn’t certain her husband, Paul, was “the one” when they first met.
“I wanted to be sure we were compatible,” Martha, 95, recalled about the initial introduction that took place at a Grange party in 1936.
But, love blossomed and, after a few years of dating, the couple married on Nov. 23, 1939.
Now, 72 years later, the Union Township residents have been honored as Pennsylvania’s longest married couple by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
“Worldwide Marriage Encounter’s mission is to proclaim the value of marriage and one way to do that is to promote long-married couples,” explained Bill Kreke, an area leader with WWME.
Kreke and his wife, Heather, presented the Shannons with a certificate acknowledging their long-lasting love earlier this month.
The statewide contest was part of a nationwide project, Kreke explained, with the faith-based marriage enrichment program seeking nominations via churches nationwide. A winning couple was honored in each of the 50 states, while the longest-married couple in the country, based solely on contest entries, was Wilbur and Theresa Faiss of Las Vegas who’ve been wed 78 years.
“You have to make up your mind that you’re going to make it last,” Martha Shannon said of her philosophy of marriage. “You don’t go running home after your first scrap.
“You have to remember it takes two to make a marriage work. It can’t just be one of you doing all the work,” she continued.
“And,” she added, “you make sure you always put the kids first.”
Doing so was a large task for the Shannons who raised 10 children. Now, Martha and her 91-year-old husband enjoy spending time with their 23 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren while awaiting number 24’s birth in June.
It was one of their daughters, Barbara Shannon, a nurse in Erie, who nominated her parents for the WWME award.
Although delighted over being named the state’s longest-wed, Martha said she was disappointed a few days after receiving the honor to learn of a Philadelphia-area couple who had been married 78 years.
However, because the award was based on couples entered in the contest rather than any formal search, the Shannons still hold WWME’s title.
“They must have gotten married right out of high school,” Martha said, adding with a slight chuckle, “I had some things I wanted to do first.”
Closer Look
Related Photos
-
Paul and Martha Shannon of Union Township have been honored as Pennsylvania’s longest-married couple by Worldwide Marriage Encounter.
Discussion
Contest crowns Union husband, wife as state’s longest-wed couple
- Closer Look
-
-
Photo Gallery: Some powerful and heartbreaking images from tornado aftermath
Oklahoma City-based AP photographer Sue Ogrocki was at the Plaza Towers Elementary School, which was destroyed, and saw rescuers pulling children out of the rubble. This is her account of what she witnessed, including some of her most powerful — and heartbreaking — images.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Laurel senior county’s new dairy princess
The two candidates cross their fingers and the crowd goes silent, awaiting the verdict. And the 2013-2014 Lawrence County Dairy Princess is — Rhonda Mitcheltree!
-
In The Schools: Keystone Exam could up graduation stakes
The typical Pennsylvania student will spend more than 46 hours taking standardized state tests during his or her academic career. That equals more than a week’s worth of school and does not take into account the amount of time that schools spend specifically preparing for tests or helping students who have failed standardized tests.
-
Are We Ready? Funds from all levels help prepare for disaster
Local fire and police departments and ambulances services spend countless hours training to prepare for manmade or natural disasters. This all breaks down to money for equipment, man hours and training costs.
-
John K. Manna: Data shows decline in number of primary voters
Voter participation isn’t what it used to be. That’s nothing new, but there has been a significant drop in voting here in Lawrence County. And it’s happened suddenly, particularly in the so-called “off-year” elections.
-
Primary 2013: School board candidate tops campaign spending
Historically, spending by school board candidates has paled in comparison to those running for other local offices. But not this year, at least with one candidate — George J. Gabriel.
-
On the Record: A listing of today’s police items and district judge reports
On the Record is a periodic update of public information coming out of the Lawrence County Government Center and local police departments. Look inside for the latest listing of police items and district judge reports.
-
Lawmakers looking at special education funding
The state hands out special education dollars under a flawed formula that gives schools the same amount of money, regardless of how many students need services or how intense and costly those services are, lawmakers said.
-
Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
-
Our Opinion: You should be frightened, outraged by IRS abuse of power
When people talk about government posing a threat to citizens, a common topic these days is unmanned drones. But a more credible threat may be the Internal Revenue Service. This agency, responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing related rules, has the ability to make life miserable for the average individual.
- More Closer Look Headlines
-
