Just Hours After War Hero Takes Last Breath, Wife of 71 Years Joins Him in Heaven
In a storybook ending to their 71-year-long marriage characterized by love and loyalty, US veteran Herbert Delaigle and his wife Frances passed away on the same day.
According to WRDW, Army veteran Herbert Delaigle, 94, died at 2:20 a.m. on July 12. His 88-year-old wife, Frances Delaigle, died just 12 hours later at 2:20 p.m.
“It’s amazing how they were together for 71 years and now they are together in heaven,” the Delaigle family told WRDW. “What an amazing love story that is.”
Family says Herbert and Marilyn Frances DeLaigle died just 12 hours apart after 71 years of marriage.
“They lived together, loved together, laughed together and passed on the same day.” ❤️? https://t.co/DVupflUCAu
— FOX 46 Charlotte (@FOX46News) July 16, 2019
In June of 2018, Herbert and Frances’ beautiful love story was shared in a WRDW/WAGT article as they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Holding hands and smiling adorably at one another, the couple shared how they had met one another in 1947, when Herbert was 22 years old and Frances was just 16.
“Frances worked at a little cafe we had in Waynesboro named White Way Cafe,” Herbert said.
“I kept seeing her going in and out, in and out and I had my eyes set on her. And then I finally got up the nerve to ask her if she would go out with me sometime.”
Once in a while, a couple comes along who gives you hope that true love exists. Such is the story of Herbert DeLaigle, 94, and Marilyn Frances DeLaigle, 88. The couple has died just 12 hours apart after 71 years of marriage. pic.twitter.com/GMS3ZsyvDh
— David Maina Ndung’u?? (@ItsDavidMaina) July 17, 2019
The pair dated and married, and Herbert was stationed in Germany during WWII. According to his obituary, Herbert spent 22 years in the military, serving in WWII as well as the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Since military life kept Herbert away from home for long periods of time, Frances was always delighted when he returned home.
“I guess, you know, him being in the service, a lot of times he’d be gone a lot and when he’s home, I always got his hand,” Frances said, nodding towards her aged hand tucked into Herbert’s, as it had been for decades.
The couple credited a good sense of humor, love and being there for one another as the reasons for their impressively long marriage.
“I never would have dreamed that we would’ve got this far and I hope we go a few more years on that,” Herbert said.
The sweet couple got one final year together, ending their time on earth just as they would have wanted: together.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
