On Valentine's Day, Bro. Charles and Ellen Cummings celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary at the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown.

Their secret to a long, happy marriage? "Just love each other," Mrs. Cummings said.

Bro. and Mrs. Cummings were married on Feb. 14, 1929, in Elkton, MD. They were 19 and very sure of their decision.

Ellen and Charles grew up in Fleetwood, PA, just seven doors from one another. Ellen would walk to work every morning and often, as she passed Charles' house, he was getting into his car.

"She snared me!" Bro. Cummings said.

"He was a wonderful man, and I knew I wanted to marry him," Mrs. Cummings said.

Bro. Cummings, a member of Olivet-Oriental Lodge No. 385, Philadelphia, was a construction supervisor in both the Philadelphia and the Tampa Bay, FL areas. Mrs. Cummings worked as a riveter and inspector during WWII. They have two daughters, Janet and Lois, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

The Cummings reside in the Village Green Area. Every Thursday afternoon, they visit the residents at the Masonic Health Care Center. Bro. Cummings plays the organ for the residents. "I play pieces that people like to hear: music from the 1950's and 1960's," Bro. Cummings said. When he plays songs like "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and "Home on the Range," the residents sing and hum along.

As Bro. Cummings plays the organ, Mrs. Cummings visits with residents who gather to hear the music.

"His organ playing is a way for me to start conversations with the residents. I ask them if they like the song or if they like the organ music," Mrs. Cummings said.

The Cummings came to the Masonic Homes in August 1998. This residential living area offers three meals daily in the beautiful Grand Lodge Hall Dining Room, bi-weekly housekeeping services, personal laundry service, regularly scheduled transportation, social events, around-the-clock emergency nurse call response, and all utilities except telephone and cable TV.

Currently accommodations in this area are available immediately. If you are interested in experiencing life first-hand at the Masonic Homes, you may call the Masonic Homes Admissions Office at 1-800-422-1207. An appointment will be scheduled with one of the Admissions Representatives to tour the facility or send you our Masonic Homes brochure.