Golden Anniversaries!!

August is my favorite month of the year and it’s probably because I’m still at my happy place in Michigan. It's usually beautiful weather to jump in the lake. It’s my birthday month, and also wedding anniversary. As I reflected on my husband and my 33rd wedding anniversary last week, I realized that we are not unusual in our family for longevity in being together.

Both my parents and in-laws are alive and well and with their only spouses. My in-laws celebrated 63 years of wedded bliss in June and my parents will be 61 years next week! Amazing. We are thankful for their models of weathering life’s disappointments and celebrating joys, which I know has helped my husband and I in our own journey.

My parents' wedding reception 1962
Roc and Dorothy Massey,
Florence Stoddard Leach (great-grandmother),
Elizabeth and Walter Tubbs

Bill and Ruth Breyfogle's wedding, 1960

But I realized making it to a Golden Anniversary takes more than commitment. Other factors come into play, like the age at which you are married and one's health! I think there’s some luck, too. 

Both sets of my grandparents, c. 1963

I thought I would do a dive into who of my ancestors were lucky enough to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversaries. Besides my parents, both sets of grandparents made it to 50 years! I remember both of these events and celebrating their lives together. 

• My mother’s parents, Walter E. Tubbs and Elizabeth Leach, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1985 at the ages of 74 and 71, respectively. 

  

  Elizabeth Leach and Walter Tubbs, 1935
  
  

• My father’s parents, Rockwell J. Massey (born Rocco Mazziotti) and Dorothy Sedlock, celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 1984 at the ages 75 and 73, respectively.

Roc and Dot Massey, 1984

I was curious, how likely is it that a couple makes it to 50 years? According to the 2021 US Census statistics, approximately 5%!! Given the likelihood, it is truly amazing to me that my parents and both of their parents made it to the Golden Anniversary!

Diving further, it turns out that 2 of my 4 sets of great-grandparents ALSO made it to 50, one set on each side. 

• My mother’s paternal grandparents, Charles Walter Tubbs and Cora Viola Orcutt, celebrated their 50th in 1947, at the ages of 75 and 69, respectively.

C. Walter and Cora Tubbs, 1947

• My father’s paternal grandparents, Emanuel Anthony Mazziotti and Concetta Mortelliti, celebrated their 50th in 1958, at the ages of 81 and 67, respectively.

Looking to the great-great-grandparent generation, none of the couples made it to 50 years, but a few were close.

• My mother’s paternal great-grandparents, Samuel Obed Tubbs and Francis Eliza Randall made it to 49 years, Samuel died at the age of 83.

• My mother’s paternal great-grandparents, Chauncey Orcutt and Susan Bailey made it to 47 years, Susan died at the age of 63.

It is truly amazing to me that there are so many Golden Anniversaries in our family. If our families are any indication, I think there's hope that Jim and I might make 50 years. :)