Fort Lupton couple celebrates 68 years of marriage

    The love of family and more grandkids than they can count.
    George and Barbara Gaul say it’s the simple things that have sustained them through more than six decades of marriage.
    “We worked together,” Barbara said. “And our family comes first. We have raised four good kids. We haven’t had any problems with any of the kids.
    “No drinkers, no druggers,” George added.

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Barbara and George Gaul

    The couple, who lives in rural Fort Lupton, will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary Aug. 18.
    The Illinois natives met at church shortly before George entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and started dating. There was a rival for George’s affection.
    “He had a different thought that another family friend was the one, not me,” Barbara said.
    “But I changed his mind,” she added with a laugh.
    They timed their wedding around George’s ability to come home for a weekend.
    “We had a small wedding, no frills,” said Barbara, who cooked the food for their reception.
    George originally trained to be a military pilot. But some medical issues left him stateside in a training role during World War II. He was discharged from the military Dec. 7, 1945. It took some time before he said he realized the significance of the date (Pearl Harbor Day).
    After his military service, George took a job as a machinist and worked on the south side of Chicago. Barbara worked for an insurance firm. George parlayed his work into starting his own communications business that dealt with the very new technology of computer components. The work eventually brought George, Barbara and their family to Colorado, and they have lived in Fort Lupton for 33 years. They have been members of First United Methodist Church for more than 30 years as well.
    Their marriage was blessed with four children: Judy, Gary, Glenn and Patty. They are proud grandparents to 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. George, 89, and Barbara, 87, need to pause for a moment to add up all the grandchildren in their head.
    They say their marriage has come with the same ups and downs that any couple goes through but never anything too serious.
    “Yes, we did have questionable times when we differed of opinion,” George said. “It never got to the point where one threatened the other one with divorce or anything like that.
    “Our love never failed us. Did it?” George asked as he looked at Barbara.
    “Nope,” she replied.
    They plan a family dinner at the Doubletree Restaurant in Platteville to commemorate their anniversary. A larger family celebration is planned for October when George turns 90.
    
Contact Kevin Denke at 303-659-2522, ext. 225 or kdenke@metrowestnewspapers.com