Former First Lady Barbara Bush has died at the age of 92 Tuesday afternoon at her home in Houston, Texas. She served as the nation's First Lady from 1989 to 1993.
George H.W. Bush's office released a statement Tuesday afternoon, announcing her passing.
"A former First Lady of the United States of America and relentless proponent of family literacy, Barbara Pierce Bush passed away Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband of 73 years, President H.W. Bush; five children and their spouses; 17 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and her brother, Scott Pierce. She was preceded in death by her second child, Pauline Robinson "Robin" Bush, and her siblings, Martha Rafferty and James R. Pierce.
The official funeral schedule will be announced as soon as is practical."
The former first lady had been in failing health over the last few months of her life. Doctors say she had been battling Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, and congestive heart failure and had been in and out of hospitals over the last year. Over the last few months, she has been given oxygen and recently, on Good Friday, the former first lady had to be admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital, while suffering from shortness of breath.
She was being cared for at her home that she shared with her husband, while in the company of her daughter Dorothy and sons Marvin and Neil. Her other sons, former President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush have also been seen visiting over the last week.
Barbara Bush was raised in Rye, New York the daughter of magazine publisher, Marvin Pierce. She met her husband George while at a dance during Christmas vacation. The pair got engaged to be married before the former president went off to World War II as a Navy torpedo bomber pilot.
Bush dedicated her time in the White House to the cause of literacy and joined with her husband in raising more than a billion dollars for charily since leaving office. George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara were happily married for 73 years.
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