GALION – Ray and Marty Weithman have been married for almost 63 years, but their love story goes all the way back to elementary school.

Martha Mae Flannery was a first-grader at St. Joseph School in Galion and Raymond Anthony Weithman was in the second grade.  They shared a classroom, a cafeteria and more.  “I always thought he was a cute little fella.  I was attracted to him early on,” said Marty.

Now the couple, who are both 85, will celebrate another Valentine’s Day together.  Side by side, reminiscing and appreciating how life had a way of bringing them together.  And love had a way of keeping them close.  Ever since they said “I do” back on Sept. 6, 1958.

“It was just the way that things went.  We just seemed to hit it off on whatever we did,” said Ray matter-of-factly.  “We ended up together 62 years now, almost 63.  I guess God blessed us.  That’s the way I look at it.”

Although the two regularly ran into each other at school and in church, they didn’t go out on their first date until high school. Even then, it was only a few times.  But that changed during their junior and senior years in college at The Ohio State University.

Ray asked Marty to a Buckeye football game, which officially “kicked off” their romance.  “We always went to all the ballgames together and we studied together, and things just developed,” Marty said.  “Then we started dating and we just kept on dating after that.”

They got engaged in April 1958, the same year Marty graduated with a B.S. in nursing.  Ray earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from O.S.U. the following year, not long after their marriage at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Galion and a reception at her parents’ home on Portland Way South

Marty worked for a short time in the maternity department at Galion Community Hospital, earning $1.51 an hour back in the day, while her husband put his degree to good use at his family’s longtime business in town – Weithman Brothers Inc.

It wasn’t long before the Weithman family grew – four children within a five-year span.  As fate would have it, Kimberle, Ray Jr., Elizabeth Mae, and Carl Joseph all went on to graduate from O.S.U., the same campus where their parents became sweethearts for life.

Marty said the key to a happy marriage, at least for them, has been sharing their love of boating, gardening, traveling, and other pastimes.  “We’ve always had so many interests together and I think that’s big in being happy with one another and doing the things we love.”

The two, who own a 1992 Airstream, have towed the luxury motorhome to every state but Alaska and Hawaii.  They’re longtime members of the Mohican Valley Ohio Airstream Club and, when not attending club events and rallies, enjoy winters at R.V. sites in Sarasota and Dade City, Fla.

The Weithmans are also avid sailors and longtime members of the Mohican Sailing Club in Mansfield, where Ray served as Commodore for two terms. They have raced both a Jet 14 and a Thistle during the club’s Sunday afternoon races on Charles Mill Lake and also had a cottage there for many years.

Besides square dancing, Marty enjoys knitting, crocheting, and sewing.  She volunteered her time teaching religious education classes at St. Joseph’s for many years and was a swimming instructor at the former Galion Country Club where she also played tennis and golf.

Ray, meanwhile, served two terms as president of the Country Club and is a life member of the Knights of Columbus St. Francis Council 1234 in Galion.  He and Marty are fixtures at Sunday mass, but also find time on nice summer weekends to trek to Lake Erie where the children own cottages.

The Weithmans admit they’re a close-knit family whose faith has always been at the cornerstone of their lives.  The clan nowadays includes seven grandchildren and one great-grandson, who also go camping in the Airstream and wouldn’t miss a holiday or special occasion at grandpa and grandma’s house.

Because Ray and Marty know what it takes to keep a marriage together.  And they’re grateful for family and friends who have stood by them through the years.  “We have the same interests and enjoy them together,” Marty said.  “And we are not afraid to say ‘I love you’ every day.”

Especially on Valentine’s Day.