Ecuadorian husband and wife with combined age of 215 years named world's oldest married couple
Julio Mora and Waldramina Quinteros married in secret in 1941
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A husband and wife from Ecuador have made it into the Guinness World Records after being officially named as the world’s oldest married couple.
Julio Mora, 110, and Waldramina Quinteros, 104, have a combined age of just under 215 years and have been married since 1941.
The couple got married on 7 February 1941, in the first church built by the Spanish in Quito: La Iglesia de El Belen.
However, their wedding was a secret because their parents disapproved.
The two retired teachers live in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, where in mid-August they received the accolade.
Their daughter, Cecilia, says her parents are very happy together but that the coronavirus lockdown has taken its toll on their mental health.
“For a month they have been different, more downcast because they miss large family gatherings,” she said.
“Since March, we have not had any of that. My parents need family contact.”
Cecila added that her father enjoys watching television and drinking milk, while her mother enjoys eating desserts and likes to read the newspaper every morning.
The couple have four children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Mr Mora was born on 10 March 1910, and Ms Quinteros on 16 October 1915.
The couple previously listed as the world’s oldest couple Charlotte and John Henderson from Austin, Texas, who have a combined age of 212 years and 52 days.
Mr Mora and Ms Quinteros’ marriage is not the longest ever recorded, with that milestone belonging to Herbert Fisher and his wife Zelmyra, who were married for 86 years and 290 days until Herbert’s death in 2011.
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