Glastonbury couple set to share 66th Valentine's Day

Doris and George Larson have been married since 1945. Photo by Steve Smith.

George Larson met Doris Bright when the two of them used to routinely hang out with friends at the Walgreen’s soda counter in their Chicago neighborhood. They soon began dating, and about five years later they were married on Feb. 17, 1945.

“We spent a lot of time getting to know each other going to the beach on Lake Michigan,” George said.

“It was just kind of a group thing,” Doris said. “We dated, and then the war started.”

Doris was working at IBM in the windy city and went to visit George while he was stationed in Texas as part of the Air Force during World War II. “I went down to see him, and he asked me to marry him,” she said. “Two weeks later we were married.” The couple was later stationed together in Germany just before the end of the war.

About to celebrate their 67th anniversary and their 66th Valentine's Day as a married couple, George and Doris Larson lived in Alabama (George was stationed there during the Korean War), Boston, Cleveland and New Jersey, before settling in Glastonbury in 1975. “This is the longest we've lived anyplace in our entire lives,” Doris said.

The Larsons have raised a daughter, who now lives in California, and a son who resides outside of Washington, D.C. Their granddaughter is studying in Paris, France, and their grandson is a prep-school football coach in California.

The Larsons enjoy trips and activities at the Glastonbury Senior Center, and otherwise simply enjoy their lives. George was also formerly the state director for the AARP.

When asked for advice on how to make a marriage last so long, the Larsons said the old adage of “don't go to bed angry” would simply not have worked for them. “That wouldn't work with him,” Doris said. “He's a pouter. That was crushing at first. I thought that meant the end, but I just had to toughen up.”

“I gave that up years ago,” George joked.

“He's funny,” Doris said. “He's kind of a little on the sarcastic side, but I got used to that. He claims I'm 'on probation.' We're driving along and we'd see a lady weeding. He'd say, 'Get her name. She's my second wife.'”

Currently, the couple is enjoying retirement, spending time at their home and enjoying various programs at the Glastonbury Senior Center, including the upcoming Valentine's Day Lunch Party featuring the vocal group Uncommon Time on Feb. 14.  For more information, visit www.glasct.org.