Joe and Yolanda can’t remember a time when they weren’t friends, writes Kellie Patrick Gates for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

They were born the same day a year apart in neighboring West Philadelphia families and they’ve been together ever since.

“We always wanted to be together. We were always compatible,” she said.

When he was 18, Joe was drafted by the U.S. Army, part of the occupation force in Japan.

He wrote to Yolanda every night. She waited for his return.

By then, the two families had moved to Havertown. The two married in October 1951 on their shared birthdays at Annunciation church.

They raised their two daughters, Jean and Margie, buried two more, twin girls.

 Friends moved away, but they stayed put, near parents, church and SEPTA.

 Daughter Margie and her husband were minutes away. So were grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Retired now, the couple live contented lives. They celebrate a 70^th wedding anniversary in October.

Yolanda always impressed upon her daughters a  motto: Simple life, simple problems.

She has a new version.

“A simple life is a wonderful life,” she said. “joe and I are happy where we are because we have each other.”

Read more about Joe and Yolanda at The Philadelphia Inquirer.