Mineral Wells couple reflects on their 75 years of marriage

MINERAL WELLS -- Give and take is essential for a successful marriage, a Mineral Wells couple married 75 years said.

Howard and Bettie Price celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary on June 1. The couple said they were able stay together due to love and respect.

"We loved one another and never really had any problems," Howard said. "We got along fine."

Bettie said they have always gotten along.

"I don't remember us having a real serious disagreement, not in all the years we were married," she said.

To commemorate their anniversary, the couple had a small gathering for family on May 30 at their daughter's home.

The couple met on a blind date in 1945 on Saturday during Easter weekend. Howard worked with Bettie's sister, Dorothy, and she arranged a meeting where the three got together. He took a street car to Montgomery Ward at Eighth and Market streets.

"I did that and that is how we met," Howard said.

They walked around the downtown shops as Market Street then was the hub of everything in Parkersburg. They went to the Parker Theater after walking for awhile. A western was playing, but they went there more to be able to sit down than anything.

Howard ended up going to her high school graduation. She graduated from high school at the age of 16. After the ceremony her family invited him to their home in Palestine for dinner. He didn't have a car and they drove him to catch a bus back to Parkersburg.

They dated over a year. The couple was married on June 1, 1946, by the Rev. H.L. Short at the home of the bride in Palestine.

The couple lived in Wood County for many years. Her family was from Wirt County and his was from Roane County.

They lived in Vienna when they were married until 1958, in Mineral Wells from 1958 to 1965, back in Vienna from 1965 to 2008 then back in Mineral Wells from 2008 to now.

After they were married, they both worked at the old Silk Mills Factory on Grand Central Avenue near where Sam's Club is located.

They hardly saw each other and she eventually quit and went on to work for G.C. Murphy on Market Street in Parkersburg for several years.

Howard eventually went to work at Johns Manville in Vienna and retired from there after almost 39 years.

They have two children, Don Price (Brinda) of Washington, W.Va., and Lois Davis (Randy) of Mineral Wells. They have six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Don said the only time he remembered any arguments came when the kids would ask if they could do something and they were asked what the other parent said.

"I don't think they argued about anything in 75 years hardly," Don said. They also kept alcohol and tobacco out of the home.

Their daughter, Lois, also said she didn't recall her parents having a bad argument and they were the best example of how a husband and wife should conduct themselves as she herself has been married for many years. Her parents were also the example she points to in guiding her through a Christian life.

"They were a good example of what a marriage should be," she said. "They have a loving relationship."

Some times when her father was running errands and he would get flowers for no reason, Lois said.

The family regularly went camping, fishing and hunting around the state parks in West Virginia and traveled out of state often as well. They went to movies and shows and things like that.

Don said his parents have set wonderful examples for them and their families, being involved in church throughout their lives.

"We were a middle-class hardworking family," he said. "I think that is the way we were brought up."

Howard said Bettie has always been a good wife, especially highlighting her cooking skills.

Bettie said she believed it was meant to be.

"I just found the right man and we've had a wonderful marriage," she said.

In offering advice to younger couples about maintaining a long relationship, Howard said young couples need to learn to compromise.

"You have to give and take," he said. "You can't be one sided to get along. You have to come together and agree on things."

Bettie said people have to be willing to work at solving problems.

"We've never had any major arguments," she said. "If you have a problem sit down and work it out. Don't let it drag out. Have a good family and friends and keep them close."

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.