Love Notes: Former Clayton Residents Rely on Faith, Family

With Valentine's Day around the corner, Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch teamed up with Maplewood-Brentwood Patch to ask three committed couples about their lives together and what it takes to maintain a relationship.

We visited -based , home to approximately 80 senior residents.

Here is some of what they told us.

James and Barbara Doherty
Age: 82
Years married: 59
Anniversary: March 29, 1952
Formerly of: Clayton

James and Barbara Doherty met while attending college in the Northeast.

James grew up in Lincoln, NH, and Barbara grew up in Springfield, MA.

Barbara attended the College of Our Lady of the Elms, and her cousin had been dating a guy at College of the Holy Cross, where James went to school. Barbara's mom asked the cousin to arrange a blind date. They attended a football game and a dance afterward.

"I was favorably impressed," James said.

The relationship progressed well. At the time, they were juniors. They attended more dances and other college events.

James graduated and was commissioned by the U.S. Navy. He was stationed on a destroyer at Newport, RI.

The couple were married March 29, 1952.

James later worked for an oil company before joining a Springfield company half-owned by . Meanwhile, Barbara took care of their children and taught kindergarten.

In 1966, the couple moved to . James worked for Monsanto until he retired.

Keys to a strong relationship
Love and patience are important for a good relationship, James said.

"You have to truly love and respect the other person," he said.

It's also important to listen and pay attention to your spouse, Barbara said.

Barbara grew up an only child, and the couple wanted six children. They had eight—Charlene, Kathleen, Jim, Tom, Barbara, Ann, Helene and Daniel.  They have 34 grandchildren.

James' wish for his wife this Valentine's Day is long life and good health. In recent years, she experienced a broken hip and a stroke that affected the right side of her body.

He thinks people have less respect for each other now than in years past.

For them, faith in God has been an important factor. Life hasn't always been smooth sailing: Two of their children died, which had a big affect on their family.

But after all they have been through, James uses one word to describe how they feel: Blessed.