Why 38M People Have Fallen In Love With This Couple's Five-Decade Romance

When Jeralyn and Michael Wirtz first laid eyes on each other by the pool in 1976, it was an encounter that would change their lives forever. Nearly half a century later, life looks very different—but at least one thing has not changed.

Jeralyn and Michael, both aged 72, have been married for 46 years, and while the world has been transformed, their love and devotion has remained the same. Over the years they welcomed two children, and have even become grandparents thrice over, which has given them so many cherished memories.

After so many years, the couple from Chino Hills, California, can be forgiven for traveling down memory lane, as Michael told Newsweek that "life seems to go by rather quickly" at times. They went through a collection of photographs taken throughout their long marriage, which they said "brought back beautiful memories."

For many daters nowadays, being married for 46 years might seem unfathomable, but the Wirtz couple want to show that true love isn't just a pipe dream.

Michael told Newsweek: "We maintained our marriage because we both took our vows seriously and made a commitment to each other. It's important to respect one another and not to try and change your partner, because at the end of the day you fell in love with who they are. That's what makes them so special and unique."

After meeting in their mid-twenties, Jeralyn and Michael were together for 16 months before they tied the knot, and they haven't looked back since. But these days, it's become increasingly common for couples to get married later in life, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Data shows that 80 percent of women and 65 percent of men who were born between 1940 and 1944 were married by the time they turned 25, but that's fallen to 30 percent of women and 20 percent of men born between 1990 and 1994.

Dating and romance is worlds away from what it was back when Jeralyn and Michael were in that position, but they urge people not to give up on love. You never know who you might cross paths with, and as Michael says, "the rest is history."

As it turns out, it's not just friends and family who are stunned by their everlasting unity, because the couple has even gone viral on Instagram (@jeri.andmike). A Reel showing their love through the ages has been viewed more than 38.4 million times and received over 1.9 million likes so far.

Michael said: "Forty-six years is such a milestone for any marriage, so we felt very proud and excited to share those photos with all our friends and family, but the fact that it went viral was unexpected.

"Of course, our wedding day was very special, but raising our children and watching them grow up has been indescribable. Plus, now as grandparents experiencing those same things with our grandchildren is just as rewarding."

Numerous decades have passed since they made their vows to one another, but they have remained unwavering, particularly the part about "through sickness and in health." In 2020, Michael was diagnosed with prostate cancer and is now cancer free, but Jeralyn continues to battle breast cancer with her loving husband and family by her side.

They've been through plenty of highs and lows, but they're thankful to have a supportive network around them who "embraced [them] unconditionally." By sharing their story as a devoted, biracial couple, they hope to share the power of unity and remind people that romance certainly isn't dead yet.

"I think so many people resonated with our story because we are real people, just living our lives despite whatever obstacles life throws our way. I hope we can inspire people to never give up and keep going," Michael said.

Among the 41,300 comments on their viral Instagram post, social media users were, unsurprisingly, full of praise for the couple. One person wrote: "Man I love these stories. Renews my belief in true love. Especially when it comes to old school interracial couples; it was truly them against the world."

Another comment reads: "These are the type of couple y'all should take relationship advice from."

Others were simply amazed by how little they've changed over the years, writing: "They literally didn't age until they were 32 years into the marriage game together!"

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