Ray and Mavis Phaneuf have been happily married for 73 wonderful years, and they wanted to do something special for their latest anniversary. The darling couple decided to recreate their first solo dinner date at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, Washington. 94-year-old Mavis remembers how handsome her husband looked in his Navy uniform when they met during World War II on a blind date.
“A friend of mine had gone with a fella in the Navy and he asked Ray if he wanted a date and he said, ‘Yes,’ and it worked out, 73 years ago,” Mavis told ABC News. “I was at the University of Washington finishing up my last quarter, and he was in the Navy there. He was handsome and had a real nice uniform and he looked real nice to me.”
The Phaneufs were married in 1943 and had four children. They’re family has grown with 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. When asked how they’ve made things work for such a long time Mavis laughed and said “I have a lot of patience.” 96-year-old Ray smiled and said “You’ve got to pick the right girl.”