News

Tomorrow, the Armstrongs will be honored for their commitment to each other and their community at the Joined Hearts in Giving Celebration in Columbus.

 

Ohio First Lady Karen Kasich and members of the Ohio Department of Aging will celebrate the marriages and volunteer work of 17 couples from around the state. 

 

June Armstrong says she and her husband have been volunteering at their church for years doing whatever is needed. "We call every Friday, we've been doing that for years and years and years to shut-ins, taking them a paper and a book until the next Sunday," said Armstrong. "And it used to be with Feed My People, we'd deliver meals and then we'd pick up people to take to church and different things, whatever comes up, whatever is needed.  We need to slow down, but we have a hard time of it," she continued, laughing.

 

Armstrong met her husband when he came to her beauty shop to settle a plumbing bill.  He kept coming back even after the bill had been settled and soon, the two were dating.  Now, married for 71 years, Armstrong says the secret to a successful marriage is following five simple rules every day. Clark long ago created "The Secret to Our Success" and hands out laminated, magnetic copies to other couples.  June says they've given out hundreds of copies. "He's even had some come back to him and said 'thank you, you've saved our marriage'," said Armstrong.

 

According to Clark Armstrong, the five simple rules are:

– Put God first

– Put your spouse second

– Never stop courting each other

– Never keep score

– Give your spouse at least one honest compliment each day

 

The Joined Hearts in Giving event will take place at the Governor's residence.

 

Each couple has been married 40 years or longer and have volunteered anywhere from one to 65 years of community service.