Originally published Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 6:31 AM

NY WWII vet marries for 1st time at 99; bride's 86

Gilbert Herrick says he never got married because he never met the right woman - until he turned 98.

The Associated Press

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. —

Gilbert Herrick says he never got married because he never met the right woman - until he turned 98.

Now 99, the World War II veteran and retired postal worker from western New York recently married 86-year-old Virginia Hartman, a widow who raised five children.

Gilbert tells the Democrat and Chronicle of Rochester that their first encounter was in 2010 in a hall at Monroe Community Hospital, the nursing home where they both live. After that, he started visiting her every day.

Gilbert says they wanted to share a room, but the facility's rules don't allow it unless a couple is married. Hartman asked him if he wanted to tie the knot, he said yes and they were married on June 6 with Hartman's extended family on hand.

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Information from: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, http://www.democratandchronicle.com