Couple, married 67 years, die within hours of each other, holding hands

In a story that should remind some of The Notebook, a California couple that had been married for 67 years died this week within hours of each other and while holding hands.

The children of Floyd and Violet Hartwig knew that they were close to death, so they pushed their hospice beds together at home so they could be close to each other. On Feb. 11, Floyd, 90, died first. Violet, 89, died just five hours later.

“They wanted to go together,” Donna Scharton, their daughter, told The Associated Press on Thursday. "It was meant to be that way."

Floyd, a decorated Navy sailor, and Violet had known each other since childhood in Easton in Central California. They married on Aug. 16, 1947 and often wrote love letters to each other that the family still holds dear. After his service, the couple had three children and kept a small farm.

“They were dedicated to each other,” Scharton added. “Even other people who met them said they had that connection.”

Their children said that the couple stayed active, but Violet’s dementia got worse this winter, notes Fox 40. Last month, a doctor told Floyd that his kidneys were failing.

In addition to their three children, they are survived by four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.