Married 25 years, alive for over 180, John and Jane Wilford know a few things about lasting love and are eager to share their secrets:
Appreciate the other. Always keep moving. Do everything together.
Doing things together—that’s how they first met, playing Trivial Pursuit at a church singles party. Recently they keep their love moving at the gym, on the treadmill. On the equipment, they watch out for each other, and seem to really appreciate it.
Sometimes younger gymgoers take notice. Once in a while a scene of the two lovebirds working out is so tender and pure that their love is unmistakable. Their old-fashioned love really stands out.
“My wife is 95,” John told The Epoch Times. “She goes to the gym, and she works out on the equipment, and I just help her with the treadmill so that she doesn’t fall backwards.”
At least twice a week, they tread softly into Planet Fitness together in their white sneakers to keep active. Exercise has always been a big part of their lives.
Jane, a former elementary teacher, recently had back surgery and is recovering after doctors found she had a fractured vertebrae last fall. Strengthening her muscles and her heart has helped.
“The treadmill is very important to me because it helps establish a rhythm,” Jane said.
In July, they were together in the gym. John, 86, a former college teacher and inmate educator, was attending to Jane’s safety at the treadmill when someone discretely took notice: Kelley Edwards, a former sailor, who also loves to workout at Planet Fitness.
Edwards saw how loyal and sweet the couple were to each other and was awestruck. He immediately took out his phone and, unbeknownst to them, video-recorded John helping Jane on the treadmill. Heading out the door to an appointment, Edwards had no time to say hi.
He was “just so thrilled,” John later learned.
“That’s what we try to do,” the husband said, “reach out, help people, brighten their day.”
One month after the video captured them, in August, the couple ran into Edwards by chance. He held a door open for them at Planet Fitness. “I know you, have I seen you before?” Edwards said cheerfully.
Just hours after he had held open the door, The Epoch Times caught up with Edwards. John is “such a nice guy. I met him today,” Edwards told the newspaper, adding how his chivalry is seldom seen anymore.
“For him to be so caring, he stood right there and put his hand off and on her back to make sure she didn’t fall, that was just so awesome to see,” said Edwards, who also loves spreading positivity. He shared the upbeat video online where it went viral.
The cute clip generated 17 million views.
“We live in a retirement home,” John told the newspaper. “The office manager rushes up, ‘John, did you see this video? I think this is you!’”
The teenage service staff at the home also watched it and excitedly ran to tell him. Others knew about it too.
“We had no idea,” John said. “We don’t deal on social media.”
“We don’t have Instagram,” Jane said. “We’re not on Facebook, we don’t have any of that.”
So now, the passionate educators, who felt “amazed” that their story reached so many people, hope their video will help more couples strengthen their marriages and learn about true love. They were humbled and even shy about being interviewed but in the end spoke to The Epoch Times.
“We were just delighted that even though we can’t reach out and teach classes that we could have an effect on people,” he said.
“I care about my wife, she’s my dear soul, and she’s so important,” added John, who describes his doting as “an extension of our togetherness.”
“We take care of each other all the time,” he said.
