Mom passed first, said Debbie Howell, a daughter to the couple. They were holding hands. The nurse put mom’s head on my dad’s shoulder and she said to dad ‘Dick it’s OK to let go now. Shirley’s waiting for you’ and he passed within minutes.
Howell and her sisters Vicki Harper and Kelly Meek told WBNS precautions were eased to celebrate the couple’s 70th wedding anniversary on Dec. 22, and then the pair developed colds. After their conditions quickly deteriorated at the hospital, and no treatment options were left, the hospital staff agreed to let the couple share a room so they could be with one another.