Very few couples are lucky enough to reach a platinum anniversary - 70 years of marriage. But one couple in Mt. Pleasant have surpassed that, and are still very much in love.
Glenn and Dolores Coates met in 1941, when Glenn took a spontaneous trip to Minnesota and ended up going on a blind date with Dolores.
"Dolores was somewhat reluctant," Glenn said. "She said 'I'd really rather read a book.' She kindly agreed to spend the evening with me."
But Glenn had to go back to Milwaukee, and so the pair wrote letters to each other every day for three years.
"It was mostly a courtship by correspondence," Glenn said.
Glenn was drafted into WWII and eventually sent to Virginia. That's where he finally told Dolores he wanted to marry her.
"It was a phone call, and then something wonderful again happened, because she agreed," Glenn said. "This brave soul got on a train from Duluth, Minnesota and came to Washington D.C."
After spending so many years only talking by letters, Glenn says that's what led to a successful marriage.
"When you've been apart that long wanting to be together, once you get together you don't risk breaking up again," said Glenn.
They will celebrate their 73rd wedding anniversary this June. They moved into the Primrose Retirement Community together two years ago. And they do have advice for young couples.
"You must never ever go to bed after an argument, you heal everything before the day ends," Glenn said. "Things always look better in the morning, you know."
Dolores has some memory loss, so Glenn says she doesn't quite remember all of their good times together. But he says that's part of growing old with someone.
"We still love each other, we respect each other, we enjoy each other," Glenn said. "We lived happily ever after I guess you'd say."
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