Almost like a scene from The Notebook one Californian couple has ended their 60 year love story in bittersweet fashion.
Don and Maxine Simpson entered into marriage 62 years ago with a promise of ’till death do us part’ and it was a vow they kept until the very end when they died within four hours of each other.
“I knew in my heart this is what’s supposed to happen – Grandma and grandpa are supposed to be together and grandma and grandpa are going to die together,” granddaughter Melissa Sloan told KERO News.
Brought together by fate in a bowling alley in the 1940s and married just a few years later, Don and Maxine adopted and raised two boys and spent out their days in each other’s company exploring the world together.
Don and Maxine Simpson
Don, who once worked as a civil engineer, suffered a fall two weeks ago where he broke his hip but while receiving treatment in hospital his health began to deteriorate quickly.
At the same time Maxine, who was battling cancer, also declined into poor health fast but still the pair wanted to be together so the family moved them into a spare bedroom at their home.
“All Don wanted was to be with his beautiful wife. He adored my grandmother, loved her to the end of the Earth,” Slone told KERO.
Don and Maxine Simpson
The couple spent their final hours as they always had, together, holding hands and smiling and when Maxine quietly slipped away her husband followed just hours later.
“They left this world together,” Sloan told KERO.
It was a touching end to a wonderful life the couple spent together.
“It’s just amazing. It really is amazing. It’s a true love story,” Slone said.
