76 years after they married, Lakeside pair die same day (Richmond VA)

[underpants]

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

Floyd Schooles often vowed, "I do not want to live one day longer than my wife."

Virginia Harris Schooles died peacefully Thursday at 12:20 a.m., in bed at their Lakeside home. Floyd followed about 10:15 p.m. in the room he shared with his wife of 76 years.

Both were 99.


They were able to stay at home with help from a hospice, caregivers and a close-knit family that lives nearby. Their daughter, Betty Bancroft, Kennedy and her brothers Chris and Craig Weis checked in every day.

"The night before Nannie died, Granddaddy asked when her funeral was," said Kennedy, who was with both at the end. "I said, 'She's still alive.' He said, 'No. No, she's not.' Less than two hours later, she died in her sleep. He knew."



Read more: http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-11-08-0130.html

[demwing]

1. Life is a measurement of will

and you can simply give up the ghost.

[ogneopasno]

2. Oh, I love stories like that. My grandfather died of a broken heart after Grandma died, but sadly,

it took him several years because he was stronger than a horse. What a beautiful story.

[pansypoo53219]

3. my grandpa made it a few months.

we should have known we wouldn't have too long.

[snappyturtle]

4. Wonderful story. Thanks for posting this. nt

[lavenderdiva]

5. My parents died four months to the day, one after the other

my father died first on December 26th, and then my mother followed on April 26th. They both had heart problems, but after my father passed, my mother lost all will to live. I actually think she just willed herself to die. After her passing, I spoke with her cardiologist, and he said that he sees this all the time, with couples who have been together a long time.

[Skittles]

8. aw lavenderdiva

:hug:

[lavenderdiva]

10. thanks Skittles-

a little more of the story that is also odd: Both of my parents donated their bodies to science. My father's body was actually used in the medical school in the city where he lived. Unfortunately, when my mother passed, it was several days before I found her body. I was out of town on a business trip, and neighbors had left all sorts of messages on my telephone saying that they hadn't seen her and were worried. I thought perhaps she had fallen and broken a hip and couldn't get up to get the phone. I drove over there immediately, and found her. The medical school would not accept her for study. So, plan B was cremation. However, she hadn't left me any directives on where to place her cremains.

In the city where they lived, there is a cemetery dedicated to those who have donated their bodies to science. When a student enters medical school, they are assigned a body to study throughout their education. After they are finished with their study, the body is cremated. Four times a year, those cremains are buried in this cemetery; the cremains are held until the next scheduled burial. I didn't know what my mother would have wanted to do with her cremains, so I asked the funeral home if they would be able to bury her cremains in this particular cemetery, as that was her ultimate wish; they agreed to do so. One day at work, I got a call that BOTH of my parents cremains would be buried that day in this cemetery. I was rather astonished that less than 6 months after his donation, my father's body would already be ready for burial. They couldn't explain it, but only said that both my mother and my father would be buried in the same plot, on the same day in this cemetery.

So, eventually they were together again.... Thank you for the hug!:hug:

[Skittles]

16. sounds like they were wonderful people

who raised a wonderful gal :)

[lavenderdiva]

23. ....

:hug:

[roguevalley]

18. my sweet angels did the same. my Dad died in July from complications of

lymphoma and ten months later, my sweet Mama died. She had warnings about it, some sat on her bed and woke her up from a nap and smells of perfume. She even tried to talk to me about what to do when she was gone but I wouldn't allow it. :( Too much sorrow already. I am sorry lavenderdiva for your loss. Its hell isn't it?

[lavenderdiva]

21. oh roguevalley, I'm so sorry for your loss-

It is hell.... Like you, my mom tried to talk to me about what to do when she was gone, but I couldn't grasp what she was trying to tell me. Somehow she knew. She wasn't in bad health or anything, but somehow she knew.

Hugs to you :hug:

[NOW tense]

6. I hope that my story is like them

I don't think I could live without my wife. She wins my wife of the day award every day.

[Blue For You]

7. Same here! n/t

[Aristus]

9. I can't imagine wanting to live if my was wife gone.

And we've only been together 15 years...

[Arctic Dave]

11. Stories like this remind me of the book "Where the Red Fern Grows"

I believe it conveys the sentiment of broken hearts when someone loses a loved one, even though it was about animals.

[jasmeel]

29. An amazing book- cried like a baby after that one. n/r

[barbtries]

12. not one day

would they live without each other. my mother died on the 12th anniversary of my father's death. i've always considered it significant.

[The River]

13. I Really Admire

older couples who manage to
go the distance. Esp the ones
who become so "attuned" that
that they literally go as one.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

14. Ah, sweet. GLAD THEY COULD GET MARRIED...

.. I mean after all, just BEING together 76 years counts for NOTHING in OUR society.

[file83]

27. LOL

I'm glad you said that - it's exactly what I was thinking.

[LeftishBrit]

15. A moving story. I'm glad they had so long together

[Dinger]

17. My Great Aunt & Uncle Died within 5 Minutes Of Each Other

Both went in to a nursing home. They had a loving, caring family, and the choice was theirs. Within a few months, my Uncle Charlie died of a heart attack. They brought Thelma into the room to have time alone with her beloved husband. She laid on her bed, which was next to his, and quietly passed away, heart attack also. True story. Happened about 35 years ago, in Waverly, Iowa. I think it was a beautiful thing.

[roguevalley]

19. awww, (((DINGER)))

[Dinger]

20. Thanks. I Was Trying To Find A Link, Bur That Happened A Long Time Ago

I'll keep looking. . .

[lavenderdiva]

22. Your story is amazing...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Dinger. They must have loved one another very much :hug:

[eridani]

24. Robert Bruns

John Anderson, my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonnie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snow;
But blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson, my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither;
And monie a canty day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither:
Now we maun totter down, John,
But hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson, my jo.

[readmoreoften]

25. I hope my baby and I are like that. I don't wanna be without her.

I hope we get to be even closer in the next life.

[Lars39]

26. My great grandparents died within a day of each other.

He was 90 and she was 85.

[VOX]

28. So much life -- so much life together. And so much time together...

Beautiful, moving story.