Couple observes 73rd wedding anniversary
As Edith and Glenn Tinley celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary, the couple claims there’s no secret to a long and happy marriage. “It’s just automatic,’ said Tinley.
“Just be good,’ smiled Mrs. Tinley.
Originally from California, the Tinleys are both residents of Beverly Healthcare in Uniontown, where activities director Virginia Norman recently organized a party to celebrate the couple’s wedding anniversary as well as Tinley’s 93rd birthday. Mrs. Tinley is 92.
The party took place in a room filled with other residents as well as musical selections played by entertainer Dave Dahl.
“Happy anniversary – 73 years, it doesn’t get any better than that,’ proclaimed Dahl, who also gave Tinley best wishes for his birthday.
Dahl entertained the couple with songs such as “The Anniversary Waltz’ and “My Blue Heaven’ – the latter Mrs. Tinley’s request – while officials served cake and ice cream. Norman read poetry. The Tinleys received gifts, including a bouquet of pink roses and a teddy bear.
To the delight of everyone, the Tinleys held hands and shared a kiss.
“We gave them a party because it’s a tremendous thing to be married that many years,’ said Norman. “And they are representative of the people here: very caring, nice, friendly people. Everyone likes them very much. We wanted to recognize them.’
Mrs. Tinley explained that she and her husband grew up in the country in Washington County. He went to school in California and she went to school in Bentleyville.
“It wasn’t any trouble,’ Tinley kidded about how the couple fell in love.
She was 19 when they married; it was his 20th birthday.
“One night, we decided to run off and get married. We were married by a Methodist minister. We got married in Fredericktown in the manse,’ she remembered.
They married in 1929, just a few weeks after the crash on Wall Street. Asked about being married during the Depression, Mrs. Tinley said, “We didn’t have anything. We lived on macaroni and tomatoes.’
Through their marriage, Tinley worked in the mines and the mill. He did mechanical work, Mrs. Tinley said. He retired from Lee Norse Company in Charleroi.
A homemaker, Mrs. Tinley said, “We worked hard. We canned food and had a flower garden. We did everything.’
The couple raised three children, who married and have given them nine grandchildren and 10-great-grandchildren. Their children include Nelda Tinley Lundy, now deceased, and her husband, Jim Lundy; Glenn Tinley Jr. of Pittsburgh and his wife, Patti; and Betty Tinley Keim of Kansas and her husband, Dr. Richard Keim. Mrs. Tinley noted that Betty was born on their anniversary.
The Tinleys were also active in the First Presbyterian Church in California, where Tinley served as an elder on the Session and Mrs. Tinley became a deacon and a member of the Session.
She was also moderator of the church’s Group One Presbyterian Women for many years and served on the Washington Presbytery. She also worked on church missions.
Tinley is a Mason, belonging to the Mon Valley, Uniontown and Pittsburgh lodges. Mechanics was also a hobby for him.
Mrs. Tinley was a long-time voting delegate of the National Women’s Conference. She has served as past matron of the California Order of Eastern Star.
Looking back over their years of marriage, Mrs. Tinley noted, “We did lots of good things.’
Norman noted, “Edith is very patient and understanding. Glen is very fun-loving. He likes to crack jokes.’
Indeed, the couple still enjoys each other’s company.
Asked if the couple has any advice for couples marrying today, Tinley begged off giving an answer.
But Mrs. Tinley said, “Just plug along, have a good old time and it’ll work out.’
And both still consider marriage something worth believing in today.
Said Mrs. Tinley, “You believe in God and you believe in marriage.’