Elderly couple married for 70 years die just four minutes apart

  03 April 2017    Read: 1728
Elderly couple married for 70 years die just four minutes apart
A devoted elderly couple who were married for more than 70 years died just four minutes apart.
World War Two hero Wilf Russell was 93-years-old when he passed away at a care home at 6.50am on March 29.

Incredibly, his 91-year-old wife Vera then died just three miles away at Leicester Royal Infirmary four minutes later at 6.54am.

Wilf, who fought in Italy and North Africa with the RAF, moved into Magna Care Home in Wigston, Leicestershire, after being diagnosed with dementia last year.

Relatives said Vera's health then began to deteriorate after her husband of 71 years became unable to recognise her during visits.



She was admitted to hospital in January and passed away without knowing her husband had died moments earlier.

The childhood sweethearts were just 16 and 18 when they got engaged before they got married after the war on September 5, 1945.

Granddaughter Stephanie Welch, 44, said: "My granddad was diagnosed with dementia a year ago and he had to go into the care home a couple of months back.

"My nan went to see him recently and he didn't recognise her at all, her health started deteriorating from that day.

"I went to visit her at Leicester Royal Infirmary and she opened her eyes and asked me where Wilf was.

"The last thing she said to me was: 'We're a right pair, aren't we?'

"He died at 6.50am and she died at 6.54am without being told about Wilf.

"I think she was waiting for him to go. She was broken-hearted."

/The Telegraph/

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