Connecticut Couple Married 80 Years

John and Ann Betar of Fairfield, Conn., have been named as the longest married couple in the United States. They have been married for 80 years with five children, 14 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

They met while growing up in Connecticut, but Ann’s father arranged for her to marry another man, so John and Ann eloped, which she now says was the right choice. The couple says they don’t like to give advice on how to stay married but they do say compromise and not holding a grudge goes a long way.

The couple will receive the 2013 award from World Marriage Encounter of San Bernardino, Calif. The award will be presented to the Betars’ at the home of one of their granddaughters, Heather Mitchell. They were married on November 25, 1932 and are looking forward to celebrating their 81^st anniversary.

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