WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
Anthony Simone just turned 101, but if you ask him about his life, his eyes won’t light up because of the years. They’ll shine because of his wife, MaryAnn Simone.
His Whole Life Changed When He Got Married
At his birthday celebration on April 5th in South Jersey, Anthony wasn’t just celebrating another candle on the cake. He was also looking forward to something far more precious—his 75th wedding anniversary with his beloved MaryAnn, who is now 96.
“When I married her, my whole life changed,” Anthony shared, his voice filled with a kind of quiet reverence only time and tenderness can teach. And MaryAnn, with a smile only love that’s lasted nearly eight decades can wear, simply said, “We had a really, really good marriage—75 years and more, God help us.”
He Loves MaryAnn with All His Heart and Soul
Really good. Those words don’t shout. They whisper. They echo across the kitchen tiles and through late-night prayers. They hold the weight of diapers changed, tears wiped, hospital visits, slow dances in the living room, and children raised into grandchildren who call Anthony “PopPop” and “Grandpop.”
Seated beside MaryAnn during his celebration, Anthony leaned over, held her hand, and gently spoke the kind of words that make you reach for a tissue. He said, “I love you with all my heart and my soul, and I’ll always love you until the day I die.” And MaryAnn? She looked back at him with that same knowing smile—the kind that says, I know. I always have.
Anthony Has Lived Through a Century of Change
Anthony served bravely in the 1940s, stationed overseas during the Battle of the Bulge and on guard duty in Munich. After returning home, he became a body and fender mechanic, but his proudest roles have always been husband, father, and grandfather.
Born in 1924, Anthony lived through a century of change but insists age has never defined him. “That’s what I try to tell people—don’t think of age,” he said. “Just take your life as it comes along.”
We All Long to Be Loved Just Like This
Anthony’s life advice is simple. His story is extraordinary. His love for MaryAnn? That kind of legacy doesn’t just inspire—it anchors us. It reminds us that real love is made up of quiet days, patient hearts, and a vow that doesn’t fade with time.
So today, as Anthony and MaryAnn look toward their 75th anniversary on May 6th, let’s celebrate them. Let’s celebrate a love that stayed. A promise that held. And a life built not on grand gestures, but on grace.
Because the truth is, we all long to be loved like that. And if we’re lucky, we learn—just like Anthony and MaryAnn—that the greatest love stories are written one day at a time.
Corinthians 13:7-8 "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
WATCH: WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
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Originally published August 21, 2025.
