Fifty Years Of Love From When She Said 'Yes

To close out the love stories for the month of February, here are Valentine's Roger and Linda Gardner.

 She said “yes”!

Roger and Linda Gardner lived just down the street from each other and would wave to one another “in passing.”

“He (Roger) finally asked a mutual neighbor friend for her (Linda’s) phone number, called her and asked her on a date,” explained the couple’s daughter, Jamie Stober. “She said yes!”

When asked what it was that attracted them to each other, the duo said they “enjoyed each other’s company and sense of humor.”

It didn’t take long for the lovebirds to decide it was meant to be.

“We dated for about six months before marrying,” the couple said. “By then we had decided we were a match.”

When asked when they each knew it was meant to be, Roger replied, “soon after we started dating.” Linda replied that it was “within a few months.”

What better date to say I do, than February 14? The Gardners celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. They were married February 14, 1973.

When asked what the qualities were that they liked the most about each other, it is obvious the two are still a love match.

“Linda is honest and easy to be with. And beautiful, of course!”, Roger said. And Linda, chimed in with her estimation of him, “Roger is intelligent and industrious. And handsome, of course!”

The two have five daughters: Jamie, Jennifer, Becky, Mindy and Bethany.

“We also have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren,” they said.

Family is what they hold near and dear, and is what they enjoy together the most.

“We enjoy traveling to see our children and grandchildren for family get-togethers, and doing things with them,” they said. “The last two years we have also enjoyed seeing the great grandkids!”

When asked how they would describe the journey they have been on as a couple in one word, it was “perseverance.”

“Because there are a lot of ups and downs of over the course of a marriage,” Roger said.

Linda chose the word, “interesting.”

“Because you never know what will happen next, especially with five daughters,” she said.

Celebrating their anniversary on the “love holiday” each year, the couple have somewhat of a tradition.

“We were actually married on Valentine’s Day in 1973,” they said. “To celebrate, in earlier years, we would usually go out to dinner. These days, flowers and chocolates are our usual go-tos.” As for marital advice for those entering marriage, the two had some to share.

“Marriage is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Roger, adding that it was a quote he once heard.

Linda added, “stick together and have each other’s backs.”

Roger is a retired manager at Pioneer Communications. He worked there from 1974 to just a few years ago. According to his family, he "loves to socialize and tell stories". 

Linda was home manager and caretaker of the couple's five girls; who were born from 1970 through 1987! The family says she is "more shy, but one of the most genuinely sweet people you will ever meet."