The Oamaru couple, who celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary today, met each other originally at Bible class, when Mrs Willetts was aged just 13 and her future husband was 15.
Yesterday, Mrs Willetts (81) recalled it was probably love at first sight.
"We sort of stuck together," she said.
Mr Willetts (84) was born in Waimate and moved to Oamaru in 1939, while Mrs Willetts (nee Ovens) has lived in Oamaru all her life.
The couple were married at St Paul's Church in Oamaru on April 8, 1950.
There had been "rain, hail and snow" the day before their wedding, but the day itself was fine.
Mr Willetts recalled his bride looked "a bit of all right" when she came down the aisle, wearing a dress she had bought in Christchurch for 20.
Mr Willetts had started work as an electrical apprentice in 1941 with the Waitaki Electrical Power Board.
He was chief inspector when he retired in 1987.
His work took him away a lot when the couple's four daughters were young so it was a "bit tough going at the time", Mrs Willetts said.
Family was very important for the couple, who also have eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
They were looking forward to seeing photographs of a granddaughter's recent wedding in Perth.
The years had gone quickly and they had always done everything together.
Give and take was the secret to a successful marriage, they agreed, and they had always had a happy and loving relationship.
"We've always had a lot of fun," Mr Willetts said.
"We look after one another," his wife added.
