It takes a combination of strong faith in God, true love and hard work to be married for 70 years, said Mable Robinson, but she and her husband Herman have accomplished just that.

The Robinsons recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary with a family dinner at the Coosa Country Club. They are both 87 years old and are blessed with good health, said their son, Wayne Robinson.

Mable Robinson said she and Herman met in the spring of 1942, fell in love and were married that fall at Lindale First Baptist Church.

Herman Robinson worked as a building contractor for 50 years before retiring, and Mable assisted with the business and was a homemaker, she said. Now, the couple manages a group of apartments and are members of Lindale United Methodist Church.

Their four children, Joyce, Earl, Catherine and Wayne, all live in the Rome area with their spouses. The Robinsons are blessed with nine grandchildren and 18 great-great grandchildren, said Mable Robinson. She said their happy times are spent with family and friends.

Wayne Robinson, their youngest son, said his parents celebrating such a milestone anniversary was amazing.

“It’s incredible. That’s something that’s a rarity in these days, especially that a couple stays together for that much time, and they’re both very healthy, still,” he said. “I just think it’s a remarkable feat in today’s time when people will not stay together a while.”

He said his parents and their union have served as strong pillars throughout his and his siblings’ lives.

“It’s always been my solid foundation,” said Robinson. “Your parents are somebody that you should look up to, and I do. I just admire them for all that they’ve done for me and my brother and two sisters. They’re just a solid rock.”

Their secret to a long, happy marriage, said Mable Robinson, is faith in God, love and respect for each other.

“I just always felt when you vow to God, when you take vows, you’re supposed to honor those vows and you work at it,” said Mable Robinson. “You just work at it. You don’t get mad and stay mad. We just always seemed to work out. I guess it’s because we loved each other that much.”