A unique couple has just been recognized as the world’s oldest. Eleanor Gittens and Lyle Gittens, both in their centenarian years, first met during WWII, and they continue to embrace life together, making some light-hearted promises over their lunchtime beers.
At 107 and 108 years old respectively, the Miami residents have a total age of 216 years and 132 days. Guinness World Records awarded them this title recently. They now hold the distinction of both the oldest married couple and the oldest living married couple ever.
Having tied the knot over 83 years ago, they’ve also been acknowledged as the longest married couple by a record-tracking group called LongeviQuest this week.
According to their grandson, Hassani Gittens, 49, who has a journalism background, “They love life and they love each other.” Adding to that, he remarked, “And they enjoy good food.”
Hassani, who helped found The City website, also noted their partnership: “They exemplify what it means to be partners. They’re both very intelligent, well-traveled, and they place a high value on education.”
The couple’s journey began at Clark Atlanta University in 1941, leading to their wedding in Bradenton, Florida on June 4, 1942.
Shortly after their marriage, Lyle was called back to military duty, having received only a three-day pass from his training at Fort Benning, Georgia. Reflecting on those early days, Eleanor recalled, “He had to return to duty immediately, but, as you can see, [the love] continued.”
Eleanor, then 24 and expecting their first child, moved to New York City while Lyle served in the 92nd Infantry Division in Italy. There, she took on various jobs, including one at a company manufacturing aircraft parts and later becoming a public school teacher. After Lyle’s return from the war, he secured a government position in New York at the World Trade Center.
As their family grew—with three children: Lyle, Angela, and Igne—the couple began the tradition of sharing nightly martinis. Nowadays, Hassani mentions that Eleanor keeps this tradition alive, opting for a Modelo or a glass of red wine during lunch, reflecting their well-rounded approach to life and cooking, which included a variety of foods from seafood to collard greens.
Although they relocated to Florida during the pandemic, Lyle still expresses a longing for New York City, describing it as essential, saying, “If you don’t live in New York City, it’s like camping.”
When asked about the secret to their enduring marriage, Eleanor simply stated, “We just merged… we love each other.” Lyle’s answer was equally straightforward: “I love my wife. It’s simple.”
The couple has officially been recognized as the longest married couple this week, especially poignant after the passing of Manoel Angelim Dino, who held the previous title.
