Michigan Couple Celebrates a Whopping 80 Years of Marriage

Unlike most married couples, who don't get the chance to spend 80 years together, George and Norma Carpenter from Hillsdale County in Southern Michigan are an exception. The couple just celebrated a whopping 80 years of marriage.

According to Fox 47, eight months into their relationship, George and Norma, ages 18 and 17, eloped to Indiana without telling their parents. This was happening during World War II, and George had been drafted.

It's hard to wrap your head around 80 years. I mean their marriage has lasted longer than the average life expectancy (for males anyway) in the state of Michigan which is 80 (females) and 76 (males).

Just think about all of the world's major events that George and Norma have lived through together as a married couple. It's quite amazing when you think about it, just take a look:

World War II and the Holocaust
The Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall
The civil rights movement in the United States
The space race and the moon landing
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The rise of the internet and digital technology
The September 11 terrorist attacks
The global financial crisis of 2008
The COVID-19 pandemic

According to the US Census Bureau, the percentage of married couples in the United States over the age of 80 is relatively low. In 2020, only about 3.3% of married couples in the US were over the age of 80.

They've lived one heck of a life together. You can see more of their story in the video below.

READ ON: See the States Where People Live the Longest

Stacker used data from the 2020 County Health Rankings to rank every state's average life expectancy from lowest to highest. The 2020 County Health Rankings values were calculated using mortality counts from the 2016-2018 National Center for Health Statistics. The U.S. Census 2019 American Community Survey and America's Health Rankings Senior Report 2019 data were also used to provide demographics on the senior population of each state and the state's rank on senior health care, respectively.

Read on to learn the average life expectancy in each state.

LOOK: Here are the 25 best places to live in Michigan

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Michigan using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather. Cities, suburbs, and towns were included. Listings and images are from realtor.com.

On the list, there's a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.