Woman Married 82 Years Has a Very Special Disney-Themed 100th Birthday Party

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Elton and Betty met during a dance at Santa Ana High School in California and began dating soon after. During their courtship, they would dance at the Palladium in Los Angeles to the music of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and others.

World War II Brought Challenges

World War II brought extra challenges when Elton enlisted in the Army Air Corps Pilot training program in 1943. The two married in October 1942, right before he left. Once the war was over, the two moved to Corona del Mar, California, and started a family, having two daughters and a son.

Elton became an architectural draftsman and started his own business. Betty was mainly a stay-at-home mom who worked in medical offices and a junior high cafeteria. Once they retired in 1980, the couple moved to Oregon, then back to California to be near family, and then back to Newberg, OR.

The two now have 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. “We’ve been blessed in countless ways,” Betty shared with PEOPLE.

They Celebrated with a Four Day Disney Event

For Betty’s 100th birthday, the family organized a four-day Disney-themed event. The pair can no longer go to the beloved amusement park, so the family brought a little of it to them. The best part of the party was Elton’s dancing.

“My great-grandpa wanted to dance with her on her birthday,” their great-granddaughter Macey shared with PEOPLE. “They were actually able to find a sort of dancing/standing walker in order to allow him to dance to one of their favorite songs, 'Moonlight Serenade' by Glenn Miller.”

Elton dressed up as Prince Charming, Betty as Cinderella, and others dressed up as other Disney characters, such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Elton surprised his wife of 82 years with a dance using his special walker.