It’s said that true love endures, and that’s what 97-year-old Carl Hammer and 95-year-old Reva Truitt wanted to prove last weekend when they tied the knot at The Village at Heritage Park Senior Living Community, where they both live.
Both were married for more than 70 years and are both widowed. Reva first noticed Carl and started sitting near him during happy hour and they quickly became close.
“It’s been bout five months that we’ve been dating,” Reva said.
“It happens, when two sparks fire, you got a bonfire and that’s what we’ve got,” Carl said.
In the eyes of the state, this wasn’t a legal ceremony, but instead, a time for their community and families to recognize their true love. The newlyweds were married on June 18 only in spirit.
Carl has three children, seven grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Reva also has three children, nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren.
Carl is famous for his blue-ribbon, California State Fair jams. He sells over 1,500 jars per year.
All the proceeds from Carl’s jams go to Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income homeowners in need of home repairs.
And, lately, with all his newfound time together, he’s been teaching his craft to Reva.