Lutz Couple Celebrates 70 Years of Marriage

On Aug. 14, 1942 a young couple, William Sage and Dorothy Whitted, known then as Billy and Dottie, went to a small chapel on Waters Avenue in Tampa to get married.

Dottie was 16, a beautiful girl with long flowing hair. “I lied about my age and told them I was 17,” Dottie said, saying she could hardly wait to marry her love. Billy was handsome at 20. Their families said they made the perfect couple. Not long after their wedding, Billy went off to war, serving in World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy Seabees.

On Aug. 14, 2012, three children, six grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren and 70 wonderful years later, Bill and Dot Sage celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

The couple’s children, Gerald, Sharyn and Debbie, along with about forty family members, friends and neighbors gathered at the couple’s home to honor their 70-year union and witness as the Reverend Bill Danskin renewed their wedding vows.

Bill presented Dot with two dozen long stem pink roses with a card that said “We made it” and “My love always.”

When asked to give advice on what the secret is to a long and happy marriage, the couple said the key is  “keeping God in your marriage and communication.”

And one other thing.

“Never go to bed mad at each other," Dot said.

—Submitted by Debbie Johnson, daughter of Dot and Bill Sage