Wife of 62 Years Dies as Husband Holds Her Hand. 4 Hours Later, He Takes Last Breath
We hear about love stories all the time: our culture seems enthralled with the idea of finding “the one” — and yet, in this day and age people seem so ready to throw in the towel over the smallest obstacles.
But that’s not the way it used to be. And that’s not the way it is for some.
Don and Maxine Simpson first met at a bowling alley in 1952. Don had studied engineering and moved to California.
Little did he know that his location choice would change his life in more ways than one.
After meeting, they began what turned into a 62-year relationship. They married, raised a family, and traveled the world by each other’s side.
When it came time to die, the couple did that together as well. “It’s absolutely beautiful, and the story is beautiful,” Don and Maxine’s granddaughter, Melissa Sloan, told KERO-TV.
While Maxine was in the hospital battling cancer, Don suffered a fall and broke his hip. Their health faltered at about the same rate.
To ensure the two could spend their last days together, Don and Maxine’s family brought them home.
“All Don wanted was to be with his beautiful wife,” Sloan said. “He adored my grandmother, loved her to the end of the earth.”
Their family placed the couple in beds that were right next to each other. When the end was near, the Maxine and Don reached out to hold the other’s hand.
“I knew in my heart this is what’s supposed to happen. Grandma and Grandpa are supposed to be together, and Grandma and Grandpa are going to die together,” Sloan said.
“We kept them together, and had their beds side-by-side,” she continued. “Gram woke up and saw him, and held hands and they knew that they were next to each other.”
As Don held his wife’s hand, she slipped away from this world and into the next. While the family was removing her body from the room, Don followed close behind.
The two died only hours apart. They had spent their entire lives together, and they ended it the only way they knew how: side-by-side.
“They left this world together,” Sloan said. “It’s just amazing. It really is amazing. It’s a true love story.”
If you ever had a question as to whether or not true love exists, just look at the story of Don and Maxine. Even death couldn’t separate these two lovebirds.
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