72 MEMORABLE YEARS

Source Summary

Happily celebrating their 72nd Wedding Anniversary are Patricia Townson-Russell, 96, and her Fortunate and Thankful Husband William Russell, 95, joined in marriage in St. John The Evangelist, Anglican Church, Hamilton, June 26, 1954, Temperature 110 and rising, Humidity 110 and risen. When congratulated regarding the longevity of their marriage, Pat always offers the same response: "If people had told me in 1941 at Earl Kitchener School in Grade 6 that I would marry that obnoxious boy two rows over, I would have thought the world had come to an end. But after 72 years with this "one-of-a-kind" husband I can truthfully say that my life has been full of love and copious laughs no matter what the situation. Bill has a way of turning any catastrophe into fun like forgetting to pack my skirt when we were attending the Queen's Garden Party in 1967. He thought that was a joke: 'Never mind Honey, who's going to be looking at you?' He loves me, you see...still." Then too, there's the knowledge of still being together as one, that gives us the stamina to manage to bear the loss of our elder daughter while helping our younger daughter help us cope with the pangs of extreme old age.