No big disagreements in 70 years of marriage

By Ken DeLaat

It was December of 1938. Franklin Roosevelt was president, the Yankees defeated the Cubs in the World Series, Spencer Tracy won the Oscar for “Captains Courageous,” Hitler was starting to gobble up Europe, oil was discovered in Kuwait, Orson Welles’ radio reading of “War of the Worlds” sparked panic, and the country was trying to pull itself out of tough economic times.

And Arnold Woodring took Mildred Wheeler as his bride.

The Fremont couple recently celebrated their 70th anniversary.

They met on a blind date and, Mildred added, “he thought he was meeting a different girl.”

“Didn’t you?” she said to her husband, who smiled and shrugged.

During a recent interview, the two interacted with the ease and comfort of a couple who have long since found contentment within their relationship.

“We were engaged for a year before we got married,” said Mildred. “Arnold was working at Gerber; well it was Fremont Canning Company then. We got married at the Methodist parsonage which was at the southwest corner of Elm and Division. Afterwards, we went to Caruso’s and we spent our wedding night at the Valley in Newaygo.”

The couple was very active in the Fremont United Methodist Church for years, serving on several committees. Mildred is currently the church’s senior member, having joined seven years before her marriage to Arnold. They were also active in the Boy Scouts or ganization, and Mildred is a fourth generation member of the International Order of the Odd Fellows Rebekah Lodge.

“I was in the choir and taught Sunday school when I was in high school,” she explained.

Arnold retired from Gerber Products in 1978 after 43 years there and continued to pursue carpentry. They built their current home, a project that involved many friends and family members.

“I had a ‘34 Chevy,” Arnold said when asked to recall their first date. “Drove that car until 1950,” he said, smiling at the memory of it. “We met downtown at a water fountain by where One East Main is now.”

“We went to a movie at the Ideal Theater,” Mildred said. “Afterwards, we went back to my Mom’s front porch and sat. That was July third. When he asked me where I was going on the fourth, I told him we were going to White Cloud and he showed up there even though he had other plans.”

The key to a good marriage?

“Keep your mouth shut,” Arnold answered with a laugh before adding, “No, we always have managed to get along.”

“We’ve never really had any big disagreements,” said Mildred. “We’re both set in our ways, but we love and respect each other.”

The couple has four sons, Jerry, Dick, Bob and John and has had 10 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren during their years together. After the interview, Mildred called to report that their granddaughter’s step-son and his wife are expecting a baby, which would make the Woodrings step-great-great-grandparents.

This couple has been husband and wife through wars, recessions, 13 presidents, radical changes wrought by an ever changing technology, and the many challenges that life can bring.

Seventy years after that ceremony at the parsonage, 70 years after a luncheon reception at Mildred’s mother’s house, 70 years after they made their first home together at 211 West Main, 70 years after making a lifelong commitment, they stand together.

“We’ve just always had a lot of love for each other,” said Mildred. “We just deeply care for one another.”

Arnold nodded in agreement.

12/31/2008 Times Indicator Article (p. 1&2) Times Indicator
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