When Ruth and Al Swan were married on Sept. 27, 1947, William Lyon Mackenzie was the Prime Minister, singer Meatloaf was born and a loaf of bread was 13 cents.
They met in Toronto when Ruth was 15 and Al was 18.
She fell in love with the handsome Air Force officer when he was home on leave and they've been together ever since.
They got married as soon as she turned 19.
"My dad wouldn't let me go until then," laughed Ruth."Those days were something else. I lived at home and you did what you were told."
Mr. Swan is now 92-years-old, lives at Roberta Place and is managing dementia. At 89, Ruth still lives on her own.
The couple has four children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Al worked at Northern Telecom for 43 years and Ruth took a full-time job at Ford glass after their youngest turned 9.
The young Swans bought their first home in Richmond Hill for $12,000 but have now been in Barrie over 20 years.
They will celebrate this marital milestone with a dinner out.
So what is the secret to a 70-year marriage?
"Everybody wants to know that," laughs daughter Nancy Wilson. "If you ask my mother she'd probably say patience."
The bride actually has a different take on their success and it's more a reflection of another day, a different era.
"The secret is you just followed the rules. You were the woman. You did the cleaning. You did the cooking. You minded the kids and looked after him. Those days the man was the master of the home. Life was a lot simpler, easier and kinder then."
The reasons why Ruth fell in love with that young airman in uniform all those years ago, still endure to this day.
"He's a real gentleman. He's a good human being. A kind person. He just is a special guy," she said.
Ruth declined to offer advice to modern couples saying "The lifestyle is so different now."
If you actually manage to reach this incredible milestone, finding a congratulatory greeting card could be a challenge.
"Amazing. Hallmark doesn't make a 'Happy 70th Anniversary' card," said daughter Nancy Wilson.
We'll say it: "Happy 70th Anniversary Ruth and Al from BarrieToday!"
