Vanessa8
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A married couple from Ohio, whose love story started way back in their teens, always held their hands during breakfast. They were inseparable, as how their children often described them. And when Helen Felumlee, 92, took her last breath, her husband Kenneth did the same after 15 hours.
In an interview with Zanesville Times Recorder, Linda Cody, the couple’s daughter, shared they have expected that “when one went, the other was going to go.”
“We wanted them to go together, and they did,” Cody added.
The amazing love story of the Felumlee couple started when 19-year-old Kenneth was introduced to then 18 year-old Helen. After three years of being together, they decided to elope.
The two told their parents they were going on a field trip in Kentucky. Little did their parents know that the supposed “field trip” was the day the two exchanged their “I dos.” With five-dollars on hand, they headed for the courthouse to legalize their bonds which only cost two-dollars back then.
However, because of the brewing fear of their parents’ reactions to their hasty wedding, the two lived separately for weeks until Kenneth decided to tell the truth.
““I would have liked to have been there for that conversation,” Cody said.
The Felumlee couple had eight children.
Eventually, when all their children went with their own lives, the couple started travelling together. They have visited the 50 states through constant bus rides.
““He didn’t want to fly anywhere, because you couldn’t see anything as you were going,” Jim Felumlee said, describing his parents choice of transportation.
When Kenneth’s legs were amputated due to circulation problem, Helen became his loving nurse who made sure he got all the care he needed.
She continued to attend to her husband’s needs for three weeks before their deaths, even with her failing health.
Despite being frail, Cody said her mother was still “pushing his chair and she was still filling his water cup.”
Despite each one’s health condition, the two never slept apart for 70 long years.
When Kenneth’s health started to deteriorate, Helen will sleep beside in a couch to be near her husband.
Cody recalls, they even chose to sleep together on the lower bunk when they took an overnight ferry years ago when they were still travelling.
When Helen was hospitalized, Kenneth was right at her side, holding her hand tightly.
“He would just reach out and grab her hand, but he would keep his head down because he couldn’t stand to see her hurting,” Cody said.
Finally, when Helen bid farewell, Kenneth knew that his time will also come.
“Mom’s dead,” he said, looking at his children.
During his last moments, Kenneth was surrounded by his children and closest friends in what they call as a “farewell party.”
“He was ready. He just didn’t want to leave her here by herself,” Cody ended.
HOW STRONG COUPLE AND PATIENCE THROUGH 70 YEARS NOT LIKE THIS MODERN. =(