Rollie and Irene Barton

Rollie and Irene Barton celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on July 1, 2015.

To celebrate, they went on an Alaskan cruise and had a celebration event with more than 100 family members and friends.

They met at Bakersfield First Baptist Church, dated for six months followed by a proposal before Rollie's deployment in World War II as a P-51 fighter pilot.

Their courtship continued with daily mail correspondence for a year and they were married the week after Rollie was discharged.

Their early years were in Bakersfield, then 14 years in Willits on a 5,000 acre ranch, before finally settling in Santa Rosa, where they have lived for the past 50 years.

Rollie was a pilot, carpenter, rancher, and contractor, while Irene became a kindergarten teacher after raising their five children.

In addition to their children, they have been blessed with 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren with two more to arrive shortly.

Rollie has self-published two books of short stories and poems while Irene shares her artistic talents and enjoys her 'silver sneakers' class at the gym.

They are both active in their church, Crosspoint Community.

They attribute their long, happy marriage to mutual love, respect, and keeping God a focal point in their lives.