Bill and Shirley Conner are working their way through the precious metals associated with milestone wedding anniversaries. They’ve gone from silver to gold to platinum.

On Sept. 3, the Oxford Village couple celebrated their 70th anniversary.

“We’ve always been close, very close, and we enjoy being with each other,” Shirley said. “I’ve told him more than once that he’s my best friend.”

The Conners, who are both 92 years old, believe the secret to staying together for seven decades is really no secret at all. It’s just a matter of being good to each other, taking care of each other and supporting each other.

“If I want something or need something, she comes running to help me,” Bill said. “She’ll do anything for me.”

“We still love each other,” Shirley said. “All my life, he’d do anything for me.”

It’s perfectly normal to have arguments in a marriage, especially one that’s lasted through 13 U.S. presidents, but the Conners said it’s important not to let things get out of hand.

“We don’t cuss and swear at each other,” Bill said.

“I don’t hold a grudge,” Shirley said. She believes after the apologies have been exchanged, if you don’t let things go, “it will eat you alive.”

“Don’t go to bed mad at each other. Kiss each other good night,” Shirley added.

“That’s what we do, we always kiss good night,” Bill said.

When they first met, Shirley, a 1945 Oxford High School graduate, was working as a physician’s assistant for Harold Brown, a local doctor, and Bill was a patient.

At first, Bill didn’t see Shirley as his type because she was 5-foot-10 and 118 pounds.

“She was so tall and lanky,” he said.

“At school, they called me beanpole,” Shirley noted.

Despite that, they ended up going out. Their first date was in the fall of 1948. They went to see the classic movie, “Key Largo,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, at the old Opera House in downtown Oxford.

That first outing led to more dates and an engagement in May 1949. Shirley “wasn’t a bit surprised” when Bill popped the question and the ‘yes’ that sprang from her lips came quite naturally. “I was in love with him,” Shirley said.

The Conners were married in Immanuel Congregational Church, located at the corner of Hovey and Dennison streets, and spent their honeymoon in a cabin on Houghton Lake.

After that, the Conners returned to the village and spent 20 years living in a house on East St. They added two children to the family when they adopted daughters Linda and Ginger. Later would come granddaughter Tania.

In 1969, the Conners, who are longtime members of Oxford United Methodist Church

on E. Burdick St., moved into their present home on N. Glaspie St. It was built in 1873.

Both have been retired for a while now. Bill spent 36½ years working for General Motors before calling it quits in 1982, while Shirley spent approximately 30 years as a physician’s assistant. Bill also served in U.S. Navy in the 1940s and in the U.S. Army in the 1950s.

Back in the day, the Conners loved to travel. They took trips across the country and around the world. They’ve visited Africa, Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand. Their last trip was in 2001 when they toured South America.

“We don’t travel anymore, but we have all our memories,” Shirley said.

These days, things are quiet around the Conner household, but the couple finds things to do together.

“We still play cards,” Shirley said.

“We haven’t played in a long time because the last time we played, I beat you,” Bill noted.

The Conners consider it a blessing to still be together, enjoying each other’s company, while in their 90s.

“We thank God for every day He gives us,” Shirley said.