World’s oldest married couple named as husband and wife from Ecuador

They have a combined age of 214 years
Julio Mora Tapia, 110, and Waldramina Quinteros, 104, have been crowned the oldest married couple in the world
AP

A husband and wife from Ecuador have been crowned the oldest couple in the world.

Julio Mora, 110, and Waldramina Quinteros, 104, married in secret, because their parents disapproved, back in 1941.

Now, almost 80 years later, they are still going strong.

The two retired teachers live in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito, where in mid-August they received the Guinness World Record.

There are longer marriages, but at the moment no other pairs have reached such ripe old ages.

Combined, they have lived just shy of 215 years.

The couple are both lucid and in good health
AP

Their daughter Cecilia says they're both lucid and active, although the pandemic has taken its toll on their mental health..

"For a month they have been different, more downcast because they miss large family gatherings,” Cecilia said.

"Since March, we have not had any of that," she added. "My parents need family contact."

The pair have four surviving children, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Cecila said her father enjoys watching television and drinking milk, while her mother, who enjoys desserts, likes to read the newspaper every morning.

Mr Mora was born on March 10, 1910, and Ms Quinteros on October 16, 1915.

They wed on February 7, 1941, in the first church built by the Spanish in Quito: La Iglesia de El Belen.

The previous record holders were a couple from Austin, Texas. Charlotte and John Henderson have a combined age of 212 years and 52 days.

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