Valentine’s Day is an opportunity for couples to celebrate their relationship. While not every relationship lasts, there are many which stand the test of time.

After 53 years of marriage, Sumner residents Barbara and John Skinner are one of the couples going strong.

The two were introduced by a mutual acquaintance at the University of Washington and eventually raised a family.

She believes their compatibility is attributable to common values, similar personalities and sense of humor.

“Sense of humor is the essential ingredient,” she said.

Barbara said it helped for John to always provide encouragement in her endeavors.

“He was always very supportive of what I wanted to do,” Barbara said.

John is an accountant and for 15 years the couple worked together in the business. Barbara said some people asked her how they could stand being together all day at work and then together afterward, but they kept separate offices and stayed busy. They did have lunch together regularly and enjoyed the experience.

“It was fun building a business,” she said.

More than just a business was built along the way. The couple’s first home was constructed by her husband with the help of friends and family with little outside help.

During their time in Sumner, Barbara served as a city council member in the 1970s. The decision to run came after she became upset over the increasing water rates and John suggested she do something about it. This led to her time on the county council and becoming Sumner’s mayor in 1997, a position she held until 2005.

She and her husband are active in Rotary Club and he spent time with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Sportsmen’s Club. They remain active in the community, which underwent many changes during their time.

Barbara said one of the biggest changes is the population increase in the area, but Sumner is a great place to live because the people are very friendly.

She said Sumner is often called Mayberry, but Mayberry should be called Sumner.

John continues to work as an accountant and is in the midst of tax time, the busy season.

Barbara said when he proposed, she told him he had to be serious because she didn’t believe in divorce. She said the lasting marriage is because of similar goals and backgrounds, but concedes a little luck is involved. No marriage is perfect and she said most of their differences are petty and they can let go of the imperfections.

“We can kind of forgive each other when we slip a little,” she said.