Today (May 23, 2011) is particularly sweet for Richard and Ruth Zopp.

It's their 70th wedding anniversary.

The high school sweethearts met as seniors in 1940 in Alderson, W.Va. They married May 23, 1941.

"I fell for her pretty quick," said Richard Zopp.

The Zopps, who are both 88, raised four children in Munster Ind. and later moved to Whiting, Ind. They retired to Cape Coral in 1978 and have been basking in the sun ever since, boating, traveling, fishing and enjoying their lives together.

They are also active members of Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral.

The couple attributes their faith and sense of humor to keeping their love alive after all these years.

"We're very much in love with each other and care about each other and work together," Richard said. "You live with someone for 70 years and you got to learn a few things."

Richard, who was a pilot in the United States Air Force, spent 33 years working for Union Carbide, which is now Dow Chemical.

Two of their children live in the area and they enjoy their two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Their daughter, Nancy Zopp Graham, 55, of Fort Myers, is amazed by her parents.

"Like all couples, they each have their own quirks and ways in which they are different," she said. "Somehow, they manage to compromise and respect the differences while enhancing the things they have in common."

Laughter has always been important to their family, she said.

Richard has had some heart surgeries and Ruth manages her diabetes, but both feel good.

"They're always teasing and laughing with each other, so often now at growing old and all the 'fun' things that happen to a person with age," Nancy said.

Richard said he has faith God will continue to watch over them.

"We take it one day at a time and try not to complicate things too much," he said.

That goes for their anniversary as well, Ruth said.

"We don't have any really big plans," she said.

"Every day is a celebration for us. We've had a wonderful life together."

Richard and Ruth Zopp, both 88, were high school sweethearts in Alderson, W. Va. and married in 1941. This photo was taken a few years ago in their Cape Coral home. / Special to news-press.com	The couple in 1953.	From left: Joe Zopp, Rick Zopp, Ruth Zopp, Nancy Zopp and Richard Zopp in 1961