It's a case of living history and loving history.
     A Gainesville couple's love for each other keeps going strong, even after they have been together for more than half a century.
 

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      February 14, 2013 marks 70 years since Donald Dertien proposed to his wife Patricia. The unforgettable moment happened during World War II while Donald was home on leave.
     "I may never come back from the war, but I'd like to be engaged to you and how about it? And she said yes," Donald Dertien said to his future wife the night he proposed..
     This picture was taken moments after he proposed. Two months later they were a married couple. To this day, each of them remembers how the other looked back when they were teenagers.
     "She was a very beautiful lady. She had big boobs," Dertien said.
     While his wife Patricia Dertien says, "He had lots of hair and didn't have any tummy, but he was very ambitious,".
     When Donald was asked whether or not Patricia was his first girlfriend he said, "Yes. the only one. forever more."
     Now, they are both 94-years-old, but they still reminisce about their life hand in hand.
     Looking back Patricia explains, "He spent 28 years in the navy. It was a great life and we ended up with four kids. Lived in Japan. Lived in Korea. Lived in Panama."
     Through the years, the love birds would play golf, travel, and hold social gatherings together. Now, they've settled down at The Village in Gainesville.
     Donald says he's never even thought of getting divorced, "I've never regretted it not for an ounce."
      Everyday he wakes up and makes her breakfast, and the idea of not waking up next to her is unimaginable.
     Donald explains how, "I snuggle up next to her before I get out of bed, and then if I move away from her, she snuggles up to me."
    But is their love still alive after all that time? Well Patricia said that the words "I love you" are not something they avoid, "Oh yeah. Everyday. Every night before we go to sleep."

     Not knowing how much time is left to to tell each other those "three words" that have kept them going strong for 70 years.

      Donald and Patricia are both in great health.