Columbus couple shares secret to marriage on 78th wedding anniversary

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A Columbus couple is celebrating an extraordinary milestone — 78 years of marriage.

Thomas and Ernestine Price met in 1940 when she moved to Columbus at age 11. Thomas was a friend of her cousin.

"I told her cousin, ‘I'm going to marry that girl.’ And I did," Thomas said.

The couple dated during their teenage years under the watchful eye of family members.

"My sisters used to chaperone. At that time, when you were courting, you would come to the young lady's house," Ernestine said.

Credit: Davida James

In 1944 during World War II, Thomas went to the Navy while Ernestine finished high school.

"He wrote letters to me during the time he was in the Navy and so that's how we stayed connected together," Ernestine said.

Thomas returned from military service in 1946. Th