Couple Married For 73 Years Dies Hours Apart

hlntv.com ^ | January 27, 2012 | Anna Lanfreschi

[truthkeeper]

An elderly Kentucky couple is being remembered today. After 73 years of marriage, Ethel and Presley Bradshaw passed away just hours apart. She was 99 years old, he was 101.

"They died just the way they lived, together," Shannon Bass, Director of Admissions at Meadowview Health and Rehab Center, told HLN affiliate WAVE.

The couple spent their last years at the Meadowview Center. WAVE reports that Ethel moved to the center four years ago because she was struggling with dementia. Her husband visited her daily for two years, then decided to join her at the center permanently.

Bass and her colleagues remember the Bradshaws’ marriage as “a true epitome of the word 'love.'” She admires how much they cared for each other, even after having been together for so long.

"He was there to hold her hand, he would tuck her in bed at night and give her a kiss every night," Bass said...

[mosaicwolf]

Great story on a Sunday morning......A story of commitment, honor, loyalty, strength of character, and of course love.

[Clock King]

When two people are married that long, they are essentially one person.

[Joe Brower]

My maternal grandmother died a week after my grandfather did. She was perfectly healthy, for 78 years old anyway.

She simply could not live without him.

[truthkeeper]

I call these folks “swans.” I understand they mate for life.

[truthkeeper]

Thought you all might like this one.

[FES0844]

As God intended...the two shall become one.
Wish I had me one of those!

[Christian1]

True love is such a wonderful thing.
It warms you up to read such a love story.
Bless them both and their family.

[Thane_Banquo]

That's nothing! Mitt and Ann Romney are going to be married forever once Mitt is the god of his own planet. They'll be having celestial sex to produce spirit babies to worship Mitt, and Ann will be perpetually pregnant with his RINO gun-grabbing spawn for all eternity. Now that's commitment!

[nuconvert]

wow, had to hijack the thread, huh?

[dforest]

My parents have been married about 65 years. I know if one on them goes, the other won’t last long. They are so totally entwined with each other.

Best people you could ever meet too.

I was a very blessed kid to have parents like them.

Thanks, truthkeeper.

[truthkeeper]

MUST we have Mormon bashing on every single thread on this forum, including "Religion?"

Thanks for ruining it...I'll leave it to you.

Please, do carry on.

[Ditter]

Beautiful story! Thanks! Mr Ditter and I are inching our way there, we have made the 54 year mark, working on 55!

[libstripper]

So true. They basicaly grow into each other.

[Mari2525]

I had a Great Aunt and Uncle who were married 73 years. They never slept apart a single night during those 73 years and always fell asleep holding hands. Surprisingly, she lived almost 5 years after he died.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Reminds me of my grandparents, although they passed 6 weeks apart. They both died at home.

My grandmother had dementia (she had long stopped recognizing me). Her lucid moments rare. Her short term memory was nonexistent, if that long. She said goodbye to him at home before he was taken away and did not go to the funeral.

After his funeral, she asked me where he was. We were alone. Not knowing what she remembered and knowing how agitated she could get once she got going, I (hanging my head in shame) lied. I said he was outside putting in some tomatoes. “Okay” was all she said and promptly forgot the conversation. She was happy and he was probably working that great tomato field up yonder (raising my head out of shame).

Sniff, sniff..They were 92 and 94, they have been gone 7 years, I was 50 when they died. At 57, I still miss them terribly.

[Oatka]

Beautiful story. Seventy-three years? Cripes, I thought we were doing good at 50!

Had some friends who spouse died soon after one went. I told my wife not to do that :-). I’ve got a WWII 40MM shell casing that I am going to fill with my ashes. Told her I was going to paint “the eye of Horus” on it so I could keep track of her when she brings a boyfriend over. She said she’d turn the “eye” to the wall.

Typical of many women, she asked me if I’d ever marry again if she went first. Told her “No, I’d just get some 14-year-old ‘housemaid’ from Arkansas” to help around the house.

Nearly got departed ahead of time.

[AnTiw1]

RALMAO...OMG it’s been so serious this morning and your post made me laugh so hard. Thank you very much!

[GOYAKLA]

Congratulations on your fifty!
I only have 36.
My wife told me if she went first she thought that I should remarry if I wanted to. She also said that the next wife could have her clothes.
That’s when I made a huge mistake, telling her the clothes were to big to fit her.
:^}

[A_perfect_lady]

My grandparents were married for 57 years, and worked the farm together. My grandpa died at the age of 80, and my grandma... sold the farm, took the money, moved into town, and went on a 14 year spree of debauchery that included bingo, wearing pants, and driving around on a red scooter with a little pennant flag waving over it. When I asked her if she had it to do all again, would she? She said, “No. I’d join the Army!”