Larry and Phyllis Heck celebrate 50 years of marriage

The following was originally published August 13, 2016.

In a world of difficulties, every young person dreams of someday finding love and sharing a lifetime with a significant other. In the world of Larry and Phyllis Heck, they fulfilled their dreams. This week, Mr. and Mrs. Heck celebrated 50 years of marriage. Saturday Shelby sat down with the happy couple to discuss their journey of life together.

It all started on a spring day in 1964 when Phyllis was walking home from school and contemplating how to get even with a girl who had pulled a stunt and made her upset. Phyllis knew the girl had a crush on Larry. While contemplating her next move, she was quickly approaching her mother and stepfather’s home when she noticed Larry out washing his car across the street. The next move was then set in motion as she began to approach Larry.

“I went over and started talking to him and I stood there long enough until he asked me out,” she said.

The couple went on only two dates before Larry dropped down on one knee and asked for Phyllis’ hand in marriage.

“I had just got out of the Army in December of 1962,” he said. “I did not want to live by myself. I wanted somebody to share my life with.”

Phyllis agreed to marry him, but told him that she wanted to finish high school first. The couple then dated for about two and a half years before they married on August 12, 1966.

Phyllis told Larry before they ever got married that she wanted three things: a man who loved her, a home of her own, and children. After 14 years of marriage, the couple checked off the last of Phyllis’ pre-marriage requests when they adopted a little girl named Linda. The couple expressed how adopting Linda was one of the highlight moments of their marriage.

“We were married 14 years and I can’t tell you what any of those years were like before we got her because it seemed like life started all over again once we got her,” Phyllis said.

In addition to their daughter Linda, Larry and Phyllis are now the proud grandparents of two.

While the couple has now accomplished 50 years of marriage, there were a few rough moments. Larry acknowledged that the first five years of marriage were especially hard.

“I told her one day, ‘If we can’t get along, we need to go our own separate ways. We are not going to argue anymore.’”

The couple refused to allow their marriage to fall apart and made the necessary changes to get it going in the right direction. The couple attributed stubbornness as a key element to overcoming their marital differences.

“It was determination,” Phyllis said.

The happy couple believes that the secret to the longevity of their marriage has been learning to give and take. Their ability to work together has led to a successful and monumental 50 years of marriage.