After 56 Years of Marriage, Couple Dies Hours Apart While Holding Hands
For anyone who’s a skeptic when it comes to true love, one story about a couple who shared a lifetime of true love and companionship may just change your mind.
The daughters of Will and Judy Webb call their parents’ relationship “big time love.” Once you read their story, you may start to believe in fairy tales again.
After writing to Will as a friend while he was stationed with the Army in Korea, Judy became much more than a friend to Will. They quickly fell in love.
When he returned, they married on Feb. 16, 1963. Will and Judy would have 56 years of life and love ahead of them.
The couple settled and began their family in Michigan. They had three beautiful daughters together — grown women who now talk about their parents with such reverence and love.
“They always had their arms on each other,” daughter Lori Thomas told WJBK. “If she was away five minutes, he would say, ‘Where’s mama, have you seen mama?'”
Sadly, a routine surgery changed everything for Judy. Complications arose and things went from bad to worse within moments.
“She ended up coding from it,” Thomas shared. “My father watched it and broke.”
The couple’s connection was so strong and so true, Will seemingly couldn’t survive without his bride by his side. He was taken to a different hospital the following day after collapsing at home.
In 56 years of marriage, Will and Judy had never been apart. Perhaps this is why, though separated, their lives were still in sync.
“She would get a fever from her infection; he would get a fever. Couldn’t figure out where his was coming from because there was no source,” daughter Marybeth Webb told WJBK.
“Both ended up unresponsive at the same time, ended up back in the ICU,” Webb added. It was clear to everyone that Will and Judy’s bond was more than anyone ever knew.
When it neared the end, their daughters knew the couple had to be reunited before they took their final breaths.
Once they were in hospice together, their daughters pushed their beds together so Will and Judy could hold hands for the last time.
Thomas described the moment her mom seemed to sense her father had passed, explaining how Judy was “rubbing his hand.” A few hours later, on March 6, 2019, she followed her husband.
“Just feeling heartbroken,” daughter Ann Webb-Warren wrote on Facebook. In an interview, she said her parents are an example of why “no one should ever settle.”
“If you have someone you truly love, you should fight for it,” Webb-Warner told WJBK. “They fought for their love every day.”
What a powerful story. Our hearts are with these daughters as they grieve the loss of both their parents. We are grateful they took the time to share their parents’ story, and have no doubt Will and Judy are holding hands in heaven.
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