Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Sept. 26, 1991, edition 1 / Page 15
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under the sun THE BRUNSWICK {-BEACON D THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 76. 1991 j ^ Together. And f Loving It, After 65 Years I?Y SUSAN (JSIIKK William "Bcrl" ami Mildred Powell Huilcr dI Sea Village community recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary and. by all accounts, arc still lovebirds. Iliey lease each other affcclionatcly and usually can be found holding hands. It's ob vious they adore each other and that each is the other's best friend. "They're always kissing and holding hands," says an admiring neighbor and younger friend, Riia Russell. "It's wonder ful." lite Butlers live in a comfortable mobile home at 207 Sea Village, oil N.C. 'MM near Seaside. Their living room is filled with photographs of their two sons, nine grand children and seven great-grandchildren. After retiring in Washington. D.C.. they moved back to Marion. III., for a number of years. But when their son Thomas retired and moved from Akron, Ohio, to Sea Village, he persuaded them to move nearby about four years ago. Their other son, Robert, is "too far away," says Mrs. Butler. He recently retired from the U.S. Information Service and has leased a home in Thailand, where he plans to try writing a book. The Butlers like being together and they do hold hands frequently. "He docs that every time 1 sit beside him," says Mrs. Butler. "We sit and watch the boob tube and hold hands." Asked the basis for their longlasting mar riage. the Butlers turn and smile at each oth er. "Yes, ma'am," he tells a reporter, teasing Mildred. "That's what I always say." There are only smiles of affection from both when Bcrl is asked whether he follows through on that "yes" every time or just goes on about his business. ? ? As for Mildred, she says she always been one to listen, to her husband and others. Bcrl Butler and Mildred Powell first met at a Labor Day celebration in her hometown of Centerville, III., about 10 miles from where he lived in Marion. Alter "grinning at her a bit," he says he finally got up nerve enough to ask for a date. That night Mildred turned him down, but eventually they dated for three years, mar rying Sept. 4, 1926. at the Christian Church in Centerville. Ill -UTMT 65 YEA HS OF MA, HUGH WWIan, nn? MUM ?,,?er of Sea VMage SM o,ri? on end, o'ZZZpan" """" "He was kind of young," recalled Mrs. Bullcr, who celebrated her 87ih birthday on Aug. 31. "I had to wail on him. There were VA years between us." Butler, who was 85 on April 15, interject ed, "She kidnapped me. She's a little older than me and I was always afraid of her. That's why I say 'Yes ma'am' so much." His lather dead, Berl had quit high school after two years and gone to work in the printing trade to help support his family. Mildred had attended the stale university at Carbondale for two years, until her lather died. During the Depression years the Butlers moved frequently, going wherever he could find work. They got ahead enough to go in to business for themselves, back in Marion. "We had an up and down business life," recalled Butler. But always they worked hard, and as a team. "She worked right along with me," says Berl. "She's been my partner in most every thing. She's been my life partner." Eventually they owned a line home and a building and several businesses, including a newspaper distribution service, paini and appliance store anil bottled gas business. In addition to caring for her home and family, Mrs. Butler worked as cashier, han dled collections and kept the books for all the businesses. "Believe nie. that was work," she said. Butler's days weren't easy, cither. He would rise at 4 a.m. to count up to 3,4(X) pa pers out for ihe paper hoys, ihen open up the stoiv' and start making bottled gas deliv cries. Sometimes it would !x' long alter dark belore Ik.* returned home. !"he Butlers say the;, married in a differ ent era, ail era ot commitment to each oih er, to their busines to their family "We were just country lolks. We don't believe in divorce." said Butler. "Besides. I ilon t think I could ever have walked oil. She's too much a part ot my life." "We ve had very lew hie lights." he re called. "We've had a good hie and we're not broke yet." When their sons grew older and chose military service over the family business, the Butlers got hit by "wanderlust .team, said Butler, ihey sold out to Berl's oUier brother and moved to Cincinnati. ( )hio. tak ing on a Ben l-'ranklin variety store. "But the timing was bad." recollected Butler. "li *11 ( rank I in w ent out ot business about then." Butler then returned to the printing busi ness, trying several partnerships, tun he said. "They don't always work out like they should." Finally. the Butlers moved to Washington. D.C., where Berl worked II hour night shit ts checking proots at the Government Printing Oil ice for about v.'ven years, quitting at age fi5. "Those were hard years lor Mildred, he said. "I worked long enough to get a decent retirement. 1 haven't done a lick ot work since then and I don't intend to. "I'm just Irving to keep Mania happv here." After all these years together, Mildred and Berl are still a team, says their part-time chore provider and gixnl friend. Helen Land. "They 're good to each other. They 're each a caretaker to the other." says Mrs. Land. Both have had increased medical prob lems associated with aging. A stroke left Mrs. Butler with some language recall loss. Her husband has recovered much better than his doctors expected from his stroke live months ago. Neither drives any more and their activity is more limited than in the past, but they 've got each other and are thankful to be here. Their attitude is upbeat and positive. "Life is pretty much what you make it wherever you arc," says Butler. "You never know... you need to make every day count." LOkNS "5 Investors _ Li^ OaaCS*UM'V FD\C \NSOB?D 642-8^43 %VlUtEVUi^ 754-5400 sHAixorrE 07I-IOOO Daily Luncheon Specials JJ| 1 1 II 11 1 " 11 " " " " ' || Sunday Lunch Buffet I Relax, we'll do the cooking. 1 1 :30-2 PM Closed Sunday evenings. Seafood ? Sandwich Plates ? Prime Rib Lunch Specials ? Salads ? Carry-Outs HWY. 130 E. SHALLOTTE 754-8168 I I\VY. 2 1 1 SOUTIU'OUT 457-0588 Need A Doctor? Call Physician Finder... (D 754-5055 'X A Free And Easy Way To - Find The Doctor Who's Right For You! PHYSICIAN FINDER 754-5055 The Brunswick Hospital has established the Physician Finder Service to help you find the doctor who's best suited to your needs. All you have to do is call. There's no cost to you for using The Brunswick Hospital "Physician Finder," and the benefits can last a lifetime. THE BRUNSWICK HOSPITAL HiAmfTkivr Hwy. 17 S.. Supply INC
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 26, 1991, edition 1
15
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