Man married for 80 years dies at 105

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/15/05 | AP - London

[Dr.Zoidberg]

He'd still be alive today if it weren't for that ice cream truck that drove by.

I scared the dog out of the room I laughed so hard.

[MarineBrat]

>>A brand new set of pots and pans?

>>How about a shiny new vacuum cleaner?

One year dad bought mom a trash compactor for her birthday. The family still laughs about it 35 years later. :) That was some serious doghouse he was in!

[Luna]

My dad said once that he loves my mom more now than he did when they were married. They'll celebrate 38 years in November.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

My Marine and I will celebrate 21 years in September - proud to say arguments have been scarce and quickly mended......

[JCEccles]

My wife's uncle and his wife were born within a few weeks of each other and grew up next door to one another in same small town. They were sweethearts from the second grade on. They got engaged just before he enlisted to fight in World War II. They married after he was released from the Army. They bought a home just two miles from their childhood homes and raised a family of three children. He taught school. She stayed home, cooked, cleaned, and kept the yard and garden immaculate. They were inseparable. One never said, in referring to them, "Jim" or "Fawn." it was always, "Jim and Fawn" like "Jimmenfawn" like one word. They were always so in love, laughing, holding hands, eating a cup of ice cream, vanilla, together every night before they went to bed.

Then Jim, who had always been so healthy, got sick with cancer. Chemotherapy didn't even slow it, and by the Thanksgiving the family knew he wouldn't make it to Christmas. But they enjoyed Thanksgiving together. Fawn's feet were numb from neuropathy, and there crouched Jim in front of her, rubbing her small feet with his large old hands. He would enter the hospital the next day. Just before Christmas he lapsed into a coma. Fawn had been by his side 24 hours a day for three weeks. His coma settled into a steady state. Fawn wouldn't leave. After four days their daughter persuaded Fawn to go home just for one night and sleep in her own bed. The nurses said Jim's condition was likely to stay the same for a few days more at least. Fawn reluctantly went home. As she opened the door to her dark house, she heard the phone ring. She knew who it was, and what they were calling to tell her. "Your dad wouldn't leave as long as I was there," she told her daughter.

Fawn's heart was broken beyond repair at that point. Although she tried to stay busy and cheerful, she became less and less visible, rarely leaving her home. The carton of vanilla ice cream in the freezer remained half consumed, untouched since the last night she and Jim were together in their home. Fawn's feet continued to bother her and she was admitted into the hospital. For no discernible medical reason she passed away in the hospital a short while later.

Jim's funeral was quite sad, but Fawn's was almost a joyful affair. "Mom couldn't bear to be away from dad," said their daughter. "From the time he was pulling her pigtails and teasing her when she was seven, they were never apart. Now she's with him again."

A good marriage is like that.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"The basement and the garage is mine!"

Well, you're one up on my DH. He has a Machine Shed, but since we have a "Silence of the Lambs" -style basement, he doesn't want it.

Of course, it's fine that I have to go down there to do the laundry and clean the cat box! Not easy to do while you're constantly looking over your shoulder waiting to meet "Flaming" Jame Gumb or expecting to find a body in the cistern, LOL! *Rolleyes*

[Eric in the Ozarks]

nice story.

[GSlob]

Who said it "As a rule, bachelors die crazy. The married folk usually die before the craziness stage"? I remember reading or hearing it somewhere.

[Cathy]

My in-laws call us "the Bickersons" - they have never argued a day in their 47 year marriage and can't understand why we argue.

My parents have been married 48 years and argued probably every day - so you know who is starting most of the "arguements!"