A Morning Kiss Ralph Young awakens Ruth with a kiss each day, as he has for most of the 78 years of their marriage. The only major separation occurred when he was a soldier in World War II; then he wrote to her every day. Here they are both 99, “more in love than ever.” They had no children, so parental alliance did not bring them closer, but they did enjoy many things together—vacations, square dancing, and listening to country music on the radio.

CHRIS HOWELL/BLOOMINGTON HERALD TIMES/AP PHOTO