The
couple met when Barbara was just 16 years old and home for the holidays in Rye,
New York, while she was on a school break.
The
pair had a long-distance relationship and got engaged right before George left
the United States to serve as a naval pilot in World War II.
In
1945, George H.W. Bush wed Barbara Pierce. They tied the knot at the First
Presbyterian Church in Rye.
George
and Barbara have now been married for 73 years, making them the longest-married
couple in U.S. presidential history. A feat that is most certainly one to
celebrate.
Over
the years the couple has overcome much adversity. While serving in the war in
1944, George was rescued in the Pacific Ocean by a U.S. submarine after his
aircraft was shot down by the Japanese.
Two other crewmen didn't survive the incident.
George
was honorably discharged in September 1945 and awarded the Distinguished Flying
Cross.
Following
his stint in the Navy, he attended Yale University in New Haven, Conn., and
earned a degree in economics. He and Barbara then relocated to Texas with their
first-born child, George W.
George
started a career in the oil business but also followed in the political
footsteps of his father, Prescott Bush, who was a Connecticut senator. George
represented Texas as a congressman for two terms.
George
also became an ambassador to the United Nations and served as the Chairman of
the Republican National Committee, Chief of the U. S. Liaison Office in the
People’s Republic of China, and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
George
was vice president in the early '80s alongside President Ronald Reagan before
winning the Republican nomination and becoming the country's 41st president in
1989. Barbara focused on universal literacy during her stint as First Lady.
He
and Barbara have four sons: George W, John Ellis, Marvin, and Neil. George W.
became the 43rd President of the United States in 2001. John Ellis, known as
"Jeb," served as the governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. They also
had two daughters, Doro and Robin, the latter who passed away from leukemia at
the age of 3.
The
couple has 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
In
November 2017 at the age of 93, George became the oldest living president in
U.S. history. After so many years together, this couple has consistently
demonstrated a devotion to their family, country and continue to celebrate
momentous milestones such as their marriage. We wish them all the best for
years to come.