Arthur and Patricia Burch have been married for a whopping 59 years. The couple met when they were just teenagers. Arthur would watch her skate in the roller rink, the two began dating, and a year later they were married. To celebrate their latest anniversary the Dothan, AL, man did something a little different. At least not something we expect from a 76-year-old!
The doting husband walked into the Good Luck Tattoo & Piercing Parlour on Montgomery Highway, where he sat down with tattoo artist Don Childree. Arthur wanted to do something to commemorate his lasting love for Patricia. Don, who had never tattooed someone his age before, was so moved that he called it the most touching experience of his career! While every love story is special in its own way, it is crystal clear that no one has loved anybody the way that Arthur loves his dear Patricia!
See more of this incredible love story below.
[H/T: Fox News / Good Luck Tattoo & Piercing Parlour]
"She was 18 when we got married, and I was 17," Athur Burch told Fox. "She's now 77, and I'm 76."
This year marks the couple's 59th wedding anniversary, which may come as a shock to some of their relatives who believed he and Patricia wouldn't last!
"Both sides of the family said it would never last, but here we are 59 years later," he said. "I know nowadays people don't stay married 59 days. But I still love her just as much as I did the day we married."
To commemorate his everlasting love, Arthur went to the Good Luck Tattoo & Piercing Parlor and sat down with artist Don Childree. Arthur wanted a tattoo of his wife's beautiful face on his chest and he went to the right place. Regardless of how you feel about tattoos, when you see this detailed portrait of Patricia, you'll know exactly why Arthur chose to solidify his love this way.
"This is by far the most touching experience I've had in my career," Don wrote on Facebook. "This is living proof that LOVE is real and this is what life is about… I love my job. Thank you all for allowing me to experience things like this."
Patricia has Alzheimer's and doesn't quite remember Arthur, but that hasn't weakened his love for her at all.
"I go every day at noon to feed her lunch. I haven't missed a day since she got there," he said. "She may not recognize, or know me, but she's still mine. But some days I can tell she knows me because of the way she grins. When it comes down to it, I love her."
Arthur thinks of it as his duty to take care of her since she's been taking care of him all of these years.
"We said, 'Til death do us part' and we meant it. I've had five spine surgeries, and she took care of me for three years and eight months. Now it's my turn," he says. "Now I can carry her with me for the rest of my life. We never know nowadays when somebody's time will be up."
See more of this story in the video below.
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