Husband, wife married 70 years die within hours of each other

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – Family of a Tulsa couple married for nearly 70 years say the pair died within just a few hours of each other.

The Tulsa World reported Monday that Nancy Gatewood died on Jan. 15 and her husband, Jack, died the following morning. Both were 88. They met as high school students in Ash Grove, Missouri.

Family members say Nancy was hospitalized for complications from a broken hip and pneumonia. They say it was the first time since World War II the couple had spent any significant time apart.

Jack’s son says the distance was hard on his father. He says people at the assisted living facility would find him wandering around, asking if they’d seen her.

The son says his father never learned of his wife’s death. He died of cardiac arrest before family members told him the news.