CA husband and wife die 4 hours apart

[Hum]

Don and Maxine Simpson were married for 62 years, and not even death could keep them apart for long.

According to the couple's granddaughter, Melissa Sloan, the Simpsons, of Bakersfield, Calif., passed away approximately four hours apart on the morning of July 21. Maxine, 87, had suffered from bladder cancer, while 90-year-old Don had struggled with Alzheimer's disease and suffered a broken hip and pneumonia in the week before his death.

The couple had lived in Bakersfield since the early 1950s, though neither were California natives They were introduced by mutual friends at a local bowling alley. Don proposed six months later, and they were married in 1952.

In early June, the ailing couple moved in with Sloan in order to be near family. Don had entered the hospital for treatment on his broken hip and pneumonia, but Sloan had him moved back into her home on July 19, and placed his bed next to Maxine's.

Maxine died at 7 a.m. on the 21st. At 10 a.m., as her body was being taken from the room, Sloan noticed her grandfather's breathing was becoming labored. Within the hour, he was dead as well.

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[Max Norris]

Sad.. yet somehow comforting.  Wouldn't care to go on without my wife, been together too long to be apart now.. although "wow" at 62 years.  We passed 22 recently, doesn't seem so long now.

[Krome]

Very sad.  My grandma and grandpa did passed away on the same year.. just not on the same day...

[techbeck]

How I am guessing my grandparents are going to go.  Both close to 90 and been married for 60+ years.

 

Grampa

Prostate issues.  Memory issues.  Eating issues.  Needs to use a catheter daily.  Doesnt drink much to avoid having to change the catheter.  Been to the hospital a few times from passing out since he was getting UTIs.  Still drives and is pretty active.  Relies on my gma for food and calling 911 if he passes out.  Will right out refuse to go to assisted living.

 

Grandma

Been thru 3 bouts of cancer. Colon, tongue, breast.  Chemotherapy killed off her salivary glands so she has to keep water with her at all times.  Cannot hear or see well but still sharp as a tack and still a great cook.

 

Just with their issues now, they are pretty dependent on each other and add over 60 years of marriage to that...one cannot live without the other. 

[Nick H. Supervisor]

Rough on the surviving family members, but I'm sure they'll find some solace in the idea that the couple weren't apart for long.

These kind of stories always get me thinking about the power of love and determination. I believe that I've seen such power with my own grandmother before she passed away, and while it was heartbreaking it's also slightly comforting to think that she made the decision that her time was up, nature didn't make that decision for her.

And this couple were married for 62 years! Compared to some marriages of today, I'm reminded of this quote:

[Nagisan]

My grandparents passed within a day of each other a couple months ago (though one was unexpected).

[+Warwagon MVC]

A female friend had a grandpa who died, then when everyone was at the grandma's house, she was sitting in a chair and something happened were she had to be taken to the hospital. She then died. When people arrived for the grandpa's funeral they were surprised and a few devastated to see 2 caskets.

[Hum]

Amazing that people can care for each other 60+ years, while others don't last 6 months.