Newton couple gives credit to God for their 78 year marriage

Valentine’s Day, for every person in a relationship, those words have meaning. That makes February the best month to celebrate love. For one Newton couple it means so much more. It is the embodiment of a real-life love story.

George and Ellen Moon have been married for 78 years. Ellen, who is 98 years-old and George, who celebrated his 100 birthday last summer, may not be the longest married couple in Iowa; however, it is a milestone met by only a small percentage of couples.

The Moons have experienced everything under the sun together, from time apart while George served in the army, to raising two children together and growing old together.

“When you live that long you go through a lot of experiences that’s for sure,” Ellen said.

The couple met in their hometown of Knoxville on a blind date to see a midnight movie on Halloween in 1940. One of Ellen’s girlfriends had a date with one of George’s friends, and she thought Ellen would be able to go along to be George’s date to the show.

George had no idea he’d be meeting the love of his life that evening.

“Well, I didn’t know at first, you know, but it worked out well,” George said.

Ellen was still in high school at the time, and the next day after school, George, who was two years older, had his car parked right in front of the school to get her attention.

“(He was) sitting outside the school waiting to nab me as I come out of the school,” she said with a laugh.

Their courtship started from there. George worked in Oskaloosa at that time, so they spent time together on the weekends. After a few months, the couple decided to break up, but the separation didn’t last for long. The two got back together and knew they had found their mate.

“The romance was really taking,” Ellen said. “In October on my birthday we got engaged.”

At that time, the “in” thing was to go to Missouri to get married. In Iowa, there was a waiting period when applying for a marriage license. In Missouri, a couple could get a license and get married the same day. Ellen and George decided that’s what they wanted to do, so they set a plan in motion.

George’s brother and his girlfriend came with them as they drove south to Unionville, Mo. They stopped at a gas station and asked where they could find a minister. It was a Sunday, so the man at the station directed them to the church across the street that was preparing for church that morning.

“We went across and talked to the preacher, he said yes he would have time to marry us before the service started,” Ellen said.

The minister told them where they could find the justice who could issue them a marriage license. They found him out picking strawberries in his garden. The man quickly changed his clothes, unlocked the courthouse and issued them a license.

The couple were married in the Unionville church on June 7, 1942. They didn’t host any big celebrations, but stopped in Chariton for lunch on their way home to Knoxville.

Five days after they were married, George answered Uncle Sam’s call and enlisted in the Army to fight in World War II. With George serving in World War II, it wasn’t until their third wedding anniversary they were able to celebrate the day together.

The Moons moved to the Newton area in 1947 when George took a job with the Maytag Company. The couple built a house in Lambs Grove and had only been there a few months when George was called into service again during the Korean war.

After his return in 1953, the couple returned to their home and spent years being involved in the Newton community. They were involved in the Immanuel Baptist Church Fellowship. George spent more than 40 years with Maytag, seeing the birth of Plant II in his tenure with the company.

The couple’s faith is what has carried them through these past 78 years of marriage. Ellen said God plays a very important role in their lives and they have remained a Christian couple always.

“The Lord has been uppermost in our lives and important in our lives and we give him the glory for the blessings that have come our way,” Ellen said.

One thing Ellen said is they have always supported one another in life. They found the “loves of their lives” and they have carried each other through the difficult times.

Ellen says George remains young at heart, keeping his motorcycle license even though he doesn’t have one. George still drives and makes a weekly trip to PJ’s Deli to get her cheese soup because even with her digestion problems, it’s one thing she still can enjoy. Ellen said they both deal with ailments that are natural with people of their age, but he has always been a devoted and affectionate husband who makes sure she has what she needs.

“Tucks me in bed at night and just waits on me, and I wouldn’t trade him for anything,” Ellen said.

The Moons moved into Newton Village shortly after their son, George II, died of esophageal cancer in 2018. The couple’s daughter, Melody, lives in Minneapolis but they talk on the phone every night. Last year when George turned 100, a plane circulated Newton Village to wish him happy birthday while the facility was still in lockdown. Ellen was right by George’s side for the celebration.

They continue to support each other and remain committed to their union.

“We’ve had a wonderful marriage despite all the things we experienced along the way. We’ve been there for each other. We just couldn’t ask for a better marriage,” Ellen said.

George echoed her sentiments simply stating, “It’s been a great life.”

Contact Pam Pratt at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or pampratt@newtondailynews.com