In a world where it seems nothing is made to last anymore, Dick and Twila Stone’s marriage has withstood the test of time.
The Oxford Village couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Friday, Sept. 4. They were married in the Oxford United Methodist Church on E. Burdick St. by Rev. Fred Clark.
They had been dating for about three years when Dick decided to propose during a cruise to Boblo Island.
‘It just kind of happened,? he said. ‘There was no planning. We were standing there (on the boat) watching the engine run. I just grabbed her hand, gave her a kiss and said, ‘Will you marry me???
Twila said yes and the rest is history. Their happy union produced three children (Pam, Calvin and Debbie), six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
The Stones have lived in their quaint Dayton St. home since 1961.
‘When I (first) walked in that door, I said this is where I want to die,? said Twila, a lifelong Oxford resident who graduated from OHS in 1955. ‘It just had that comfy feeling.?
Dick spent 30 years working for General Motors, then went to work for the village Department of Public Works from 1986-96.
Over the years, Twila had miscellaneous housecleaning and factory jobs, but some folks may remember her from the 15 years she spent as a clerk at Jacobsen’s Flowers in Lake Orion.
So, what’s the secret to staying married for six decades?
‘I don’t know that we have a secret,? Twila replied.
She does believe it’s very important for couples to ‘learn to get over? things and ‘say I’m sorry.?
‘You don’t sweat the petty stuff,? Twila said. ‘You have to know that you’re not always right and they’re not always wrong. And don’t say really hurtful, nasty things when you fight. Sometimes you just need to give yourself a little bit of space.?
‘She’s really forgiving of a lot of things that I do,? Dick noted.
Twila said it’s also important for couples to never give up on each other, no matter how bad things may seem.
‘Don’t walk out ? stay,? she said. ‘Tough it out and try to work it out.?
The Stones endured one of the hardest things a couple can face ? the death of a child. Their daughter, Debbie, died in an automobile crash when she was 21 years old.
‘She’d been married a year,? Twila said.
They each grieved in their own way and gave each other the space they needed to heal.
‘I wanted to keep all of my memories. I didn’t want to share them,? Twila said. ‘And I know he didn’t want to, either. We rarely even went up to the cemetery together. He’d go up and I’d go up.?
Eventually, they worked through their sorrow and made their way back to each other.
Part of their marriage’s longevity can be attributed to the fact the Stones genuinely enjoy spending time with each other.
‘We do everything together,? Twila said. ‘We go for walks every day on the (Polly Ann) trail.?
The Stones used to take a lot of trips on their motorcycle, sometimes going as far as Pikes Peak in Colorado.
‘I rode on the back,? Twila said. ‘My mother made me a real soft seat for on the bike.?
‘We ran into tornadoes. We ran into sandstorms. We ran into everything,? she noted.
‘That was before they had all the four-lanes,? Dick said. ‘It was all two-lane highway.?
In the end, perhaps one of the main reasons the Stones? relationship has lasted so long is they balance each other out.
For example, Twila loves to chat while Dick is reserved.
‘I’m just kind of a quiet guy,? he said. ‘I just sit back and listen.?
Happy 60th anniversary, Dick and Twila.