“Longest married couple” in America to celebrate 81st wedding anniversary

102-year-old John Betar has been married for 80 years so he’s obviously had some experience in regards to what makes for a successful marriage. His advice? “The key is to always agree with your wife.”

John and Ann Betar, 98, are now readying for their 81st wedding anniversary on Monday. The Betars were announced as the “longest married couple in America” by Worldwide Marriage Encounter after a review of nominations were sent in from around the country. The two lovebirds from Connecticut eloped on November 25th, 1932.

John said of their big day, “Everyone was hopping mad, and my wife’s aunt consoled my father-in-law by telling him not to worry, the marriage won’t last.” Ann added, “I had no choice but to elope because my father was set on me marrying a much older man, and I was 17. John was not the boy next door, but the boy across the street who I loved.”

In the past 15 years the Betars have lost one daughter and their only son to cancer. Ann said, “No matter how many children you have or how old they are, it’s the worst thing that can happen to a parent. But our oldest daughter is 80 years old.”

Here’s John and Ann talking about life and each other while holding hands and sitting on the couch in the waterfront home they’ve shared since 1964.

The Betars have 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. John and Ann are even known to finish each other’s sentences. “We’ll be together forever,” said John, as Ann added, “somewhere we will be.”

We say congrats to Ann and John for showing the rest of us how it’s done and for having the coolest wedding pic, EVER. Here’s Louis Armstrong singing his 1932 smash #1 hit “All of Me” in dedication to their love.