ANSONIA — High school sweethearts Marilyn and Kenny Erwin have been named grand marshals for Ansonia’s Fourth of July parade on Saturday.

“We were very surprised,” said Marilyn, who has been co-owner with her husband of M n’ M’s in Ansonia for the past 19 years.

The couple met when she was 15 and he 16. They graduated from Ansonia High School in 1962 and 1963, respectively.

Erwin and the former Marilyn Lyons have been married for 52 years, having celebrated on March 12.

“We got married on his mom’s birthday,” said Marilyn, daughter of the late Andy and Margaret (Kosier) Lyons.

Kenny, son of the late Marvin and Edna (Poling) Erwin, started K&M Service in 1968 and subsequently bought the BP Station, across from M ‘n M’s, which they purchased in 1997.

The grand marshals are the parents of two sons, Mike and Marc, owners of Erwin Brothers in Ansonia and the Erwin Brothers Fuel Stop near Greenville.

Kenny and Marilyn are members of the Eagles Lodge in Greenville and the Rolling ’50s Classic Chevy of which he is treasurer and helps with the car shows. And, the Erwins enjoy playing cards.

They also spend a lot of time at their grandchildren’s activities. Grandson Jake is 19 and a sophomore at Wright State University but was active in football, baseball and ran track for one year; and their 9-year-old twin granddaughters, Emma and Ava, are fourth-graders and played ball this summer.

“I don’t think we ever missed a game,” said Marilyn, who is retired from the Council on Rural Services, where she was administrative secretary for 20 years.

They’re getting ready for the parade. Line-up is at 11 a.m. at Ansonia First Church of God and the parade starts at 12:30 p.m.