A pair of New Jersey high school sweethearts who married in 1942 are still together today, and are both now in their 90s. After 80 years together, they shared the secret to their full lives and longevous love.
In February 2022, Frank and Tommie Otway celebrated their eight-decade milestone at an oyster bar in Orange City, Florida. Frank turned 99 years old on March 1, and had a “nice, quiet” party at home with family and their pastor.
The couple are just as loved-up as ever.
“I picked the right girl!” Frank told The Epoch Times. “She stayed with me. She’s the reason I’m here right now; she does a great job taking care of me.”
Frank, a former professional basketball player and U.S. Marine, and Tommie, who cared for their home and five children and volunteered at church, eloped on Feb. 6, 1942, before starting their family. Frank was 18; Tommie was 16.
Frank recalled meeting his wife-to-be as a “good friend” of his sisters. Conveniently, they were also neighbors in the same apartment building; Frank’s family lived on the first floor, while Tommie’s was three floors up, on the fourth.
Both recall a truly romantic first date to New York City. Tommie told the tale.
“We walked about four to five blocks to the Lackawanna railroad station, got on the train, and went to New York,” she recalled. “He bought me a 5-cent orange drink, a 10-cent hotdog, and a 25-cent gardenia corsage. We went to the theater and watched the big bands, then walked to the train again and came home. We had a good time!”
Frank spent most of their early courtship on the basketball court. Tommie remembers watching him play from the bleachers, with friends.
Frank would play one game for the Chicago American Gears in the National Basketball League during the 1944–45 season, before his Marine Corps commanding officer instructed him to quit.
But he continued playing, even after being deployed to Japan for a year. He ended up as player coach of the Marines basketball team, and when a fellow Marine, a former quarterback, inaugurated “Pacific Olympics” using the format of the regular Olympics, Frank’s team entered.
“They had the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard ... we won the championship for this,” he said.
After returning home, Frank worked as a manufacturer in New York, eventually relocating to Springfield, Ohio. He stayed with the same company for 29 years, working his way up to president and CEO.
He and Tommie endured immense heartbreak later in life, when all five of their children died as young adults. It was their faith that saved them.
“We couldn’t have gotten along without the Lord after losing our children,” said Tommie. “We’re firm believers in God and all he has done for us; we’re very appreciative.”
The couple’s strength has seen them reach their 80th wedding anniversary with love in their hearts and smiles on their faces. Today, Frank and Tommie have 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and their story is inspiring netizens worldwide to believe that love can last a lifetime.
