When Robert Adams III was stationed in England during World War II as a member of the Army Air Forces, he undoubtedly had more than the war efforts on his mind. Also occupying space in his thoughts - and his heart - was a young lady named Mary Stilwell, his fiancee.

But Bob was also focused on the task at hand. As a photographer during the war, he was assigned with lying in the belly of the plane and taking photos to show whether the planes hit their targets. Always at the ready was his parachute, made of nylon, at the time a new material that had begun to replace silk in the manufacturing of parachutes. Thankfully, he never had to use it.

After Bob safely finished his tour in World War II, his parachute would remain an important part of his life, albeit in a different form. "He sent his parachute home to his fiancee to have her wedding dress made from (it)," shares Gail Miller, Bob and Mary's daughter. "The idea came to him because he had to have his parachute with him every time he went up. He figured it was clean and beautiful material that had never been used." Mary loved the suggestion.

She took the concept to an Oxford seamstress. Because nylon was a new fabric, however, the seamstress was hesitant to work with it. "But she was willing to give it a try," Gail says. From photos of designs the seamstress provided, Mary selected an elegant dress design that boasted a slight V-neck, full-length sleeves, and a flowing train. "The dress turned out beautifully, covered buttons and all!" Gail exclaims.

"I loved the entire gown, but I loved it more because of who was wearing it," Bob shares.

The couple met at Oxford High School when Bob, then a senior, noticed Mary, a freshman, in a play. But when he approached her to ask her out, she told him she was not allowed to date until she was 16. "This meant he had to wait an entire year," Gail explains. And that's what he did.

Bob and Mary dated for four years - three of which were spent with Bob in the service. He proposed one day when they were sitting in the car after a date. "I love you and would love to marry you as soon as we are able," Bob told her. He recalls, "I asked her how she felt, and she said she felt the same way."

On Oct. 6, 1945, Mary donned her beautiful, one-of-a-kind gown and walked down the aisle. She and Bob were married 68 years until her passing in 2014.

"At my mom's celebration of life ceremony, the symbolism was made of how Dad's parachute was intended to save his life just as God's Son was given to save our lives," Gail shares. "Then his parachute was used again during their wedding ceremony to bind God's love for Mom and Dad with their love for God and each other in holy matrimony." During the service, Bob reflected, "My parachute was originally used as an instrument of war, but at the wedding it was used as an instrument of peace and love."

Bob, now a resident at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community, celebrated his 100th birthday on Feb. 15. His secret to living a long life? Love. "He married the love of his life," Gail shares. "And my mom felt the same way about him."