Deanna Love, left, and Mike Love celebrated 50 years of marriage in January. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Deanna Love was interested in her now husband Mike Love when they both attended Akron High School.

“She wanted to date me in high school, and I never knew about it,” said Mike. “She told her friends not to tell me that she liked me.”

Despite that, the couple from Akron got together and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in January.

It was Mike’s brother-in-law who ended up helping the two connect after high school.

Both Mike and Deanna went to the Akron Church of God, with Deanna and Mike’s brother-in-law both being involved with the church’s bus ministry.

“His brother-in-law said something to me first, and I said, ‘Well, he’s got to ask me out for a date,’” said Deanna. “And then I got a phone call shortly after that.”

Their first date was on St. Patrick’s Day 1973, but their location for it changed due to the weather.

“We went to my brother-in-law and my sister’s house because we were going to go to Fort Wayne, (but) there was a blizzard,” said Mike.

Around August 1973, Mike asked Deanna to marry him.

The Rev. Ray Bradway married them on Jan. 26, 1974, at the Akron Church of God.

At the ceremony, Mike sang the Hawaiian wedding song. Fittingly, Mike and Deanna then honeymooned on Oahu.

The couple has spent all of their marriage living in Akron. Mike retired from Sonoco Products in Akron after 45 years, and Deanna had various public service jobs.

The two own and operate Earl-Love Funeral Home in Akron.

Mike and Deanna have two sons, Eric and Brian, and two grandchildren, Eli and Libby.

The two noted they believe it’s their Christian faith and the support of good family members which has kept them together all these years.

Mike said he admired his wife’s persistence.

“She’s a lot like her dad. When any obstacle comes her way, she figures out a way to solve it,” he said.

Deanna said she appreciated her husband’s musical talents of singing and playing guitar.

As for marriage advice to other couples, Deanna said she’d tell them to “have Christ in their life and have common things that (they) like to do.”

“We both played tennis a lot when we were dating,” said Mike.

Deanna noted the two both enjoyed sports and did other activities like bowling when they dated.

She encourages other couples “just (to do) things together.”

“A lot of people are like ships. They go their own way, but we do everything together,” said Deanna.

For couples who are struggling with their marriages, Deanna would advise them to attend counseling and get “involved in church.”

“I would say work things out and don’t ever go to bed mad,” said Mike.

Both vouched communication in marriage is important.

Deanna and Mike Love are pictured on their wedding day Jan. 26, 1974, at the Akron Church of God. Photo provided by Deanna and Mike Love.