After being together 62 years, an elderly couple from Texas died holding each other’s hand.
On April 21, Thomas and Delma Ledbetter died an hour and a half apart from each other in their nursing home.
The couple met when they were in their early 20s through a mutual friend. Their first date sparked a love match that was sincere and true until the end.
Donetta Nichols, one of couple’s daughters, said about her mother and father’s first date that, “They drove around two, three different blocks or whatever, and they came back, and they parked, and he said he reached over, and he grabbed her hand, and he said, ‘I don’t know what made me do it.’ He said, ‘I just reached over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.’”
Only three weeks later, Thomas and Delma were married. The Ledbetters had two daughters, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The two even traveled the country together and camped out at different sites.
The couple was placed in a nursing home after they both fell ill. Thomas Ledbetter was the first to pass away, and only about an hour and half later, his wife also passed, their hands joined.
The death notice said, “Their love was a testimony to many, and was surely a match made in heave.”
Although the family is grieving for their loss, they will always keep the fond and wonderful memories of Thomas and Delma close in their hearts.
Nichols said, “I mean, it was exactly how they wanted to go. It couldn’t have been any better.”
See the full story on AJC.com.