US Couple recognized as world’s longest-married after 83 years

• Posted on November 10, 2025November 10, 2025
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

The Gittens couple from the United States, who have been married for an astonishing 83 years, have been officially recognized as the world’s longest-married couple. When asked about their secret to a lasting marriage, both answered in unison: “Love.”

The Guardian, a British daily newspaper, reported on the 8th, citing a statement from LongeviQuest, a research organization focused on longevity. According to LongeviQuest, the Gittens couple received official certification as the world’s oldest married couple on the 4th. This conclusion was reached after cross-verifying their marriage certificate, decades of records, and U.S. census data.

The previous record was held by the Dino couple from Brazil, who were married for 85 years. However, with the passing of one partner last month, the title shifted to the Gittens couple. Lyle Gittens, the husband, is 108 years old, and his wife, Eleanor Gittens, is 107. They now hold not only the record for the longest marriage but also the title of the oldest living married couple in history.  Continue reading

Their story began in 1941. Eleanor, who had gone to watch a basketball game featuring Lyle—a player for Clark Atlanta University—first saw him in the stands. “I don’t remember which team won,” she recalled, “but I vividly remember seeing Lyle that day.”

The two fell in love, but World War II stood in their way. Despite Lyle’s impending military enlistment, they decided to marry. While training at an army base in Georgia, Lyle took a three-day leave in June 1942 and hastily tied the knot.

Soon after, Eleanor became pregnant with their first child. However, as Lyle was deployed to the Italian front as part of the U.S. Army’s 92Infantry Division, she spent anxious days awaiting news from the battlefield. Eleanor moved to New York, where her in-laws lived, gave birth alone, and worked at an aviation parts company to support the family. The couple exchanged letters to cope with their separation.

After the war, they both found jobs in government agencies and settled in New York. Eleanor later pursued academia, earning a Ph.D. in urban education from Fordham University in New York at the age of 69.

The Gittens couple now resides in Miami, Florida, living with their daughter. When asked about the secret to their 83-year marriage, they replied, “We love each other” and “I love my wife.” Holding Eleanor’s hand tightly, Lyle said, “I still can’t believe we’re the oldest married couple. I’m just happy to be by her side.”