Who Has Been Married the Longest in Utah?

Published January 30, 1986. There is a group in San Antonio, Texas involved in an interesting project. During 1986 they are trying to locate the couple who has been married the longest in the United States. So far it looks like Oliver and Cora Lee Glenn of Elmore, Alabama might be the couple.

The Glenns have been married for 81 years.

Oliver and Cora Lee were both teenagers when they were married November 6, 1904. They now reside in Merry Wood Lodge, a nursing home in Elmore. Oliver is now 98, and Cora Lee is 99.

When asked the secret of their marriage’s success, the Glenns mentioned patience, understanding, and continually talking to each other.

Couples for this recognition are usually nominated by grown children, other relatives, neighbors or friends. The Texas-based group is titled Marriage Encounter, a worldwide Catholic organization devoted to the celebration of matrimony. In 1983, the Marriage Encounter group initiated the idea of an annual search for the longest-lasting marriage because “long-married couples are a national treasure and can give advice on how to remain married.” Approximately 500 nominating letters are now received each year by the group.

Just for fun I thought it might be entertaining to find out which couple has been married the longest in Utah. We often note couples celebrating a Golden Anniversary of 50 years. But do we have any couples who come even close to the 81 years of matrimony of the Glenns?

Who do you know in our state who has been married for a long time? Write down their names, address, telephone number if you have it, and number of years married. Then mail your nominations to me at the address listed below. It might be your parents, neighbors, friends, relatives, or anyone else who has been married for an extended period of time.

It might be interesting to find out how many couples we have in our state who have been married for more than 50, 60, or even 70 years. Perhaps they, too, could give us a few pointers on how to stay married.

Send in your letters within the next week. I will then compile a list and print it in a future column.

One final note. At the conclusion of each column I invite readers to respond with comments or opinions. Recently, a few readers requested my advice on personal matters.  I regret I am not able to respond to such letters. I have neither the personnel nor the time to respond to individual letters.

I apologize to those who have written to me in the past requesting a response and have not heard from me for the reasons stated.