This marriage is one for the ages

Costa Mesa residents Thomas and Margaret Mulryan say they’ve lived normal lives.

They bought a house on Fernheath Lane, went to work, raised a son who’s now 57 and lives nearby.

They’ve got a 22-year-old grandchild they’ve seen grow up. Both are from England and immigrated to the United States some time ago.

However, one feature of their lives makes them quite exceptional: their 72-year marriage.

Thomas, 95, and Margaret, 93, celebrated the milestone late last month. They were married on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 1942, in a Catholic ceremony outside Manchester, England.

Margaret, quick to smile, doesn’t hear too well these days and is quiet, but Thomas communicates for the two of them. Margaret did say there’s “a lot” she likes about her husband, even 72 years later.

“He’s a good man,” Margaret said.

The two met while working at the same aircraft facility in England. After some reflection, Thomas said their first date was a New Year’s Eve dance.

Apparently, though, Thomas wasn’t a good dancer.

“I had two left feet and no rhythm,” he said with a laugh.

Dancing skills aside, they were married 12 months later.

Thomas spent his career as a machinist, mostly with Beckman Instruments — now Beckman Coulter — in its Orange County facilities; Margaret worked as a hat maker.

The couple moved to the Los Angeles area around 1957 and in 1959 settled in Costa Mesa’s Halecrest neighborhood. They’ve lived on Fernheath Lane ever since.

Thomas is somewhat of a local legend. He was still driving until recently and is known to walk around the area on his own, said his neighbor, Diane Beazley.

Sometimes folks pull over, she said, thinking he needs to get a ride home, but he politely declines.

He’s a regular at Winguts, the chicken wings restaurant near Target on Harbor Boulevard. He’s such a good customer that he’s got a plaque on the wall.

When he goes to eat and watch sports, he gets a Coors and then a Newcastle “to wash the Coors down.”

Wingnuts’ waitresses have taken a liking to Thomas. He says Margaret doesn’t like to join him there because of all the servers trying to kiss him on the cheek, but she explained that she simply doesn’t like the wings.

The waitresses are even known to check in on Thomas at home.

“That’s the kind of relationship they have with the community,” Beazley said, adding that many residents on their street help the Mulryans with household chores and whatever else they need.

Thomas said his secret to a long life has been quitting smoking. He gave up his pipe 50 years ago and notes that his father smoked and had health problems because of it.

And what’s the secret to their long marriage? He jokes that her hearing aids and surgical implant just “reject” his voice.

But on a serious note, he adds, “Tolerance. She puts up with me.”

There’s one more thing: “Saying, ‘Yes, ma’am!’”