Seventy-three years is a lifetime for some, but for Clarence and Mary Faust of Warsaw, that amount of time has simply been what they've spent together.

Faust and the former Mary Wiles exchanged wedding vows before the Rev. George W. Thomas at the South Ninth Street Methodist Church of Noblesville on April 6, 1925 - also a Monday - and today they will celebrate that special day with their family. "We were surprised we hit this milestone alive together," Mrs. Faust said. She is 89 and Mr. Faust is 94.

Their compatibility is evident when Mr. Faust is asked to comment on their happiness during a telephone interview. After he declines to come to the telephone, Mrs. Faust said, "He agrees with what I said."

The couple has enjoyed each other's company all of their 73 years together even when there has been a difference of opinion.

"Sometimes when you talk through a difference of opinion you don't always get it worked out, but you just accept it," Mrs. Faust said. "We've never run home to mother and dad. If problems came up, we worked them out. That's the way it should be."

She believes the secret to their successful marriage is the fact that she and her husband "put God first ... without Him, you can't have a successful marriage."

That is advice she would pass along to couples contemplating marriage today - Mrs. Faust said that when you make a commitment before God, it should be honored.

"We just tried to work things out between the two of us," Mrs. Faust said. "We still do."

Together the couple raised three children: Joel Faust of Belle Vernon, Pa.; Mrs. Ray (Virginia) Bockman of Warsaw; and Mrs. Paul (Eve) Bevelheimer of Peru.

They also have nine grandchildren, nine step-grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, 18 step-great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and a step-great-great-grandchild. A grandson and a great-grandson are deceased.

"They're all very dear to us," she said.

In the early years, the couple enjoyed going on picnics with their children and later looked forward to a houseful of 30 to 40 children and grandchildren during the holidays.

"It's more or less a family affair," Mrs. Faust said, adding that their family is very close. Although the couple's son lives out of state, they talk to him every week.

Before moving to Warsaw on Sept. 12, 1991, the Fausts were lifetime residents of the Pendleton and Noblesville area. He retired from General Motors and she is a homemaker and a retired practical nurse. They attend First Christian Church of Warsaw.

Today, their time together is spent close to home. He does yard work and she works around the house and keeps in touch with friends via birthday and anniversary cards. [[In-content Ad]]