A California couple born on the same day and married for 75 years, died only one day apart.
According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Helen and Les Browndied on July 16 and 17 respectively, both were 94.
Zach Henderson, owner of the Ma N’Pa Grocery in Long Beach, Calif., said he saw the couple almost daily and called their relationship “a wonderful blessing.”
“About a year ago, [Helen] had her hand on his face and they were cheek to cheek,” Henderson said. “She said, ‘Isn’t he the most handsome man you’ve ever seen?’ hat’s exactly how they were. They were full of love and passion.”
According to the Press-Telegram, the couple also shared the same birthday of Dec. 31, 1918, and eloped in 1937 after they met in high school.
Henderson said that even though the couple were in their 90s they remained active in their community and insisted a local band set up in their driveway during a residential block party.
“They were fun-loving and beautiful people,” Henderson said.
The couple were Jehovah’s Witnesses and their oldest son, Les Brown Jr., told the Press-Telegram their faith strengthened their marriage.
“It was a real love match, wasn’t it,” said Les Brown Jr. “They were together every day for 75 years.”
‘Hope Springs’ Eternal for Long Married Couples
When they died, the Press-Telegram reported that Les Brown was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and Helen Brown had stomach cancer. However, Henderson said he never realized that Helen Brown was sick, even though he dropped off groceries to their home almost on daily basis.
“She was completely cognitive,” Henderson said, describing how he found Helen Brown a few days before she died. “It seems like she was waiting for Les to be comfortable and they were going to move on to something else with each other.”
A public service will be held for the couple on Saturday afternoon in Long Beach, Calif.