Couple married for 76 years celebrates 100th birthday together

 

A life well spent  A Tennessee couple defied all odds this year, celebrating not only 76 years together, but also 100 years of being alive.

 Margaret and Allan Little, from Bellevue, each turned 100 this year. They met at church when they were 4, in 1919. They had their first date as teens, and were married in 1938

“How long have we been married, 74 years?” Allan asked Margaret in the WKRN news program.

“Something like that,” she responded dryly.

Their secret to a long life together, as everyone naturally wants to know, has been to "Live a decent life, behave yourself and be thankful," Margaret told TODAY.com.

But research shows that the couple's longevity may also be partly attributed to their marriage.  Coupled people look out for each other, so they tend to be healthier, physically and emotionally.

As Allan said about his long marriage to TODAY, "I tried my best to take care of Margaret and myself.”