Real Stories: Earl and Delores Loggin
Staying married to the same person for 50 or 60 years has become a rare accomplishment. According to a recent study, at least 50% of American children today are raised in blended families. (Resource: tokiilab.com)
Long before the term “blended family” became popular, Earl and Delores Loggin were making their family work with a mixture of his, hers and theirs. I was able to convince my aunt and her husband to sit down with me and share their story.
They met for the first time in 1976, just in passing, but it wasn’t until a year later after she became a widower that their paths crossed again at Delores’ 30th birthday party and their romance began. They dated and were in a committed relationship for 15 years and have been married for 20 years for a total of 35 years.
Earl had three children from his previous marriage (two daughters and a son) and Delores had two sons with her husband before his death. The couple would later have a child together to complete their family.
When I talked to my aunt and uncle it was one of the first questions I asked:
Long before the term “blended family” became popular, Earl and Delores Loggin were making their family work with a mixture of his, hers and theirs. I was able to convince my aunt and her husband to sit down with me and share their story.
They met for the first time in 1976, just in passing, but it wasn’t until a year later after she became a widower that their paths crossed again at Delores’ 30th birthday party and their romance began. They dated and were in a committed relationship for 15 years and have been married for 20 years for a total of 35 years.
Earl had three children from his previous marriage (two daughters and a son) and Delores had two sons with her husband before his death. The couple would later have a child together to complete their family.
When I talked to my aunt and uncle it was one of the first questions I asked:
Was it a challenge trying to start a new life together with a ready-made family?
D: I didn’t really find it a challenge probably because I had kids too and his kids were always respectful. But I can imagine it would maybe be more challenging if you’re single but we had a pretty easy transition. His kids were older than mine, well except my oldest son and his son they were the same age, but they all got along.
What initially attracted you to each other?
D: I liked how he was with his children. Very committed. He was also a gentleman, very respectful and chivalrous. He was also kind and generous.
E: I thought she was very attractive and I liked her smile. She was also hardworking, kind and had a good personality.
You’ve been together over three decades. What do you feel has been your secret for such longevity?
D: There has been a lot of compromise. We also try to be honest with each other and always tell the other person how we feel.
E: And trust is the most important thing.
D: I didn’t really find it a challenge probably because I had kids too and his kids were always respectful. But I can imagine it would maybe be more challenging if you’re single but we had a pretty easy transition. His kids were older than mine, well except my oldest son and his son they were the same age, but they all got along.
What initially attracted you to each other?
D: I liked how he was with his children. Very committed. He was also a gentleman, very respectful and chivalrous. He was also kind and generous.
E: I thought she was very attractive and I liked her smile. She was also hardworking, kind and had a good personality.
You’ve been together over three decades. What do you feel has been your secret for such longevity?
D: There has been a lot of compromise. We also try to be honest with each other and always tell the other person how we feel.
E: And trust is the most important thing.
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Do you have any advice for young couples just starting out today?
D: It’s such a different time than when we first met and even from when we were married. I would just say, take your time. Get to know the person you are marrying. Listen and pay attention. The way they interact with their family tells you a lot about that person. For women, especially pay attention to how a man treats his mother. Has your marriage changed over the years? D: We used to go out a lot and but we’ve both mellowed out and slowed down. Especially since he retired and we moved out of Houston to a rural area. E: Every marriage has ups and downs but you have to hang in there and it will all work out in the end. |
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What are your fondest memories of your marriage?
D: I have so many! But it I have to pick one. . .he was always big on getting sweet little gifts for Valentine’s Day and other occasions with a lot of attention to detail.
E: I have too many. . .she’s done so much to make our life good.
D: I have so many! But it I have to pick one. . .he was always big on getting sweet little gifts for Valentine’s Day and other occasions with a lot of attention to detail.
E: I have too many. . .she’s done so much to make our life good.
I loved hearing more details about my aunt and uncle’s marriage and found their story inspiring. Marriage involves love, hard work and a commitment from two individuals to withstand the test of time but to make a second marriage work
coupled with balancing blended family dynamics is not an easy feat! We honor the Loggin’s this month and wish them many more years of wedded bliss!
coupled with balancing blended family dynamics is not an easy feat! We honor the Loggin’s this month and wish them many more years of wedded bliss!
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