Married for 71 years, couple from West Bromwich died four minutes apart
Wilf and Vera Russell dedicated their lives to each other. For more than seven decades they were inseparable – and one would live without the other for just a few short minutes.
Remarkably, Vera died just four minutes after her husband.
Wilf, aged, 93, died at 6.50am in a care home and Vera, 91, then passed away at 6.54am three miles away in hospital.
The couple, who lived in West Bromwich, had been married for 71 years and were rarely apart during that time.
The great-great grandparents were childhood sweethearts and family members said they were pulled apart for only a short time during Mr Russell's service with the RAF in the Second World War.
Retired engineer Mr Russell died at a care home last Wednesday and had been suffering with dementia.
His wife followed in hospital – before nurses could break the news.
Former cake shop worker Mrs Russell had been at Leicester Royal Infirmary since January after failing to recover from an infection.
The unusual timing of their deaths was revealed by granddaughter Stephanie Welch, who believed Mrs Russell's failing health was directly linked to her husband's condition.
Mrs Welch, 44, said Mrs Russell was 'heartbroken' at seeing her husband's health deteriorating and had revealed how, tragically after a lifetime together, he no longer recognised her.
She said: "I went to visit her and she opened her eyes and asked me where Wilf was. The last thing she said to me was 'we're a right pair, aren't we?'.
"I think she was waiting for him to go.
"She was broken-hearted."
The devoted couple were just 18 and 16 when they met, marrying on September 5, 1945, just days after the end of the war.
They went on to have three sons, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Asked what kept them together for so long, Mrs Welsh said: "Vera very much spoke for them as a couple and Wilf went along with whatever she said.
"Maybe that's why they lasted so long.
"They never spent a night apart throughout their entire marriage until Wilf had to move into the care home."
The family said they are planning to hold a joint funeral in Great Glen, Leicestershire.
