Many people do not know how Ed and Linda’s love story began. Linda often says she was not even looking for love.
It was almost Christmas. She had come home from college, focused on her future, not romance. Her mother casually mentioned that a friend wanted to introduce her to three young lieutenants. Linda’s immediate response was firm: “Mom, no!” But her mother insisted. One of them, she said, was already on his way to take her to breakfast.
Linda remembers asking, “What does he look like?” Just then, there was a knock at the door.
She quickly slipped into one of her mother’s outfits, touched up her makeup, and agreed to meet him. When she first saw Ed, she had a simple thought: Oh… he is good-looking. She agreed to go.
They had breakfast at Howard Johnson’s. It was an ordinary morning that became anything but ordinary. “We soon found there was a beating in our hearts that felt meant to be,” Linda says.
Not long after, Ed told her he wanted her to be his wife. They promised to love one another through sickness, through travel, through every season of life — and to always take care of each other. Sixty-five years later, they are keeping that promise.
Finding Strength in Faith and Family
If asked to describe their marriage in only four words, Linda answers simply: “We always pray together.”
Through five children, decades of change, and countless life chapters, faith and family have anchored them. “Our family,” they say, is what they are most proud of. Their children call their 65 years “a blessing to our whole family,” a living example of faith, commitment, love, and fortitude.
“I’m proud to be their daughter,” their daughter Jessica shares. “And I’m very lucky that my kids have their grandparents as models of what a committed marriage can look like.”
Like all long marriages, theirs has seen change. Linda smiles and says, “Ed always wants to make me laugh.” He is calm and quiet, she is outgoing and talkative, and somehow those differences have always fit perfectly, especially with humor tying it all together. They have learned to do life together. Over the years, Ed would even stand and sing at church, a quiet act of devotion that became part of their shared rhythm.
Becoming Founding Residents at Cedarhurst of Frankfort
Another chapter began when Cedarhurst of Frankfort first opened — just two blocks from where they were living. There was not “one negative” about the community, they say. Becoming Founders Club members felt special. They were among the very first to choose Cedarhurst and call it home.
The decision was not made lightly. Leaving their longtime townhouse required thoughtful family conversations. Ed and Linda’s children recall that although they were initially hesitant, they approached the move with a positive mindset. That perspective made all the difference.
Since moving in, they have built new friendships with residents and staff.
“Living at Cedarhurst has enriched their lives,” the family says. “They never feel isolated or alone.”
The comfort of knowing they are supported — and still engaged in a familiar community — brings their family peace of mind.
For Ed and Linda, this move was not an ending. It was another choice they made together.
As Founders Club members, they did more than move into a new apartment — they helped shape the early spirit of Cedarhurst of Frankfort. From the very beginning, they were not just residents, but part of building a community rooted in connection, faith, and belonging.
They remember those early days at Cedarhurst fondly. “We liked it a lot,” they say. The food is wonderful. The people are kind. Over time, they have adjusted to this new chapter side by side. They attend communion. They sing with friends — “with angels,” Linda adds softly. Their apartment at Cedarhurst is simply “home.”
Still Choosing Each Other 65 Years Later
Health is never guaranteed, as the family reflects, and there have been recent struggles. That made celebrating their 65th anniversary even more meaningful — a gift to gather, reflect, and give thanks.
At 91 and 85, Ed and Linda understand that none of us know what tomorrow will bring. But what they do know is this: through every year, every season, every joy, and every trial, they have continued to choose each other.
Linda still remembers Ed’s early words to her: “Dear Linda, I want to have you in every hour and be together.”
And she answered in her heart, “Yes, dear. Let us both say we will love forever and always.”
Sixty-five years later, in the community they helped begin, they are still doing just that.
This story originally appeared in the Spring 2026 issue of Flourish® magazine..
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About the Author
Ryan Davis is the Corporate Communications Manager at Cedarhurst Senior Living and the writer behind every story in Flourish® magazine. He holds a Communications degree from Indiana University and brings 19 years of experience to his role, which he began in January 2024. Ryan is passionate about storytelling, especially sharing the meaningful lives of Cedarhurst residents, families, and staff. He hopes each published story becomes a treasured legacy for loved ones.
