Couple married for 70 years dies from COVID-19 just days before appointment to get vaccine

though our minds be filled with questions and our hearts will understand words sung by John Denver more than 40 years ago. Words that still connect us. Yes, I see you, Daddy. Look on the left today. Okay? Can you see Becky? I see everybody on this assume Debbie. How? Vicky Harper and Kellie Meek sisters. Their story started with a post. Can I read to you what we put on the Facebook? So you can kind of get a picture of where we're coming from A post made by Howell two days ago with heavy hearts. We share with you that our beloved parents, Dickie, and surely make passed peacefully within minutes of each other. Dick would have been 90 years old today. His wife, Shirley, was 87. On December 22nd, the couple celebrated 70 years of marriage. And that's when their daughters say the guard, even if ever so briefly was dropped. They said to all of us kids, we think we're getting cold. That was the day after Christmas. Then on January 8th, both Dick and Shirley, positive for Cove in 19 were admitted to Riverside separated by one floor. After that, it happened quick with every avenue of treatment exhausted and with the rapid decline in health came the time to say goodbye. We asked for them to be together, and they said, absolutely. Staff at Riverside found a room big enough for two beds and all of their equipment back to that post. They were holding hands and Mom's head was resting on Dad's shoulder. Patients, my brothers and patients, my son in that suite and final, our truth and justice will be done. More words from John Denver's When the River Meets the Sea. The song Dick Wanted, played after he was gone now played softly in the room while he and his wife we're both leaving. Mom passed first. Like I said, they were holding hands. The nurse put Mom's head on my dad's shoulder and she said to Dad, Dick, it's okay. The let go now surely is waiting for you. And he she passed within minutes. 70 years, decades of love. Five Children, 13 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren. The vibrant couple that did it all. Sky diving, zip lining, world traveling, the grand parents so involved with the family they would do all the water rides, but so involved with each other. They would have a date every day at 3 p.m. Came down to minutes. My parents got the blessing of walking together through the gates of heaven into eternity, with never having to face until death do us part. How many people can say that? Love? It's beautiful, unconditional love Now an unapologetic need to save a life. The sisters wanted to share this story for their parents, but for you to take co vid seriously and to give the virus the respect it demands, our hearts air shattered. But we're a peace knowing that they're together in heaven for eternity. But his life will find a purpose. And in time he'll understand when the river meets the sea Words sung by John Denver, shared by Dick and Shirley Meek that continue to connect us all.

Childhood sweethearts who were inseparable during their 70 years of marriage died of COVID-19 while holding hands in an Ohio hospital, their family told CNN.Dick Meek, 89, and Shirley Meek, 87, passed away within minutes of each other on Jan. 16 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, the family said."They never had to go through 'until death do us part,'" said their daughter Debbie Howell. "They never had to do that because they were together and we're ever so grateful."The couple was scheduled for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 19, her dad's 90th birthday. "They were that close," said daughter Vicci Harper.The Coschcoton, Ohio, couple met in high school and were together ever since. "You read love at first sight and you think it's not true," said the family. "Well, it was love at first sight for my dad." They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Dec. 22.Parents to five children, 13 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren they lived a full life of passion, the family said. Their adventures ranged from traveling the world to skydiving to making appearances at special events for their grandchildren, even in old age. Most importantly, they always made time to be together, having a standing date scheduled for 3 p.m. on each day to toast to each other, according to their obituary."They weren't your typical 88- and 90-year-old," Debbie Howell told CNN. "They were both very, very healthy, very vibrant people with of all their faculties. They just went down so fast."The couple tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 26 after experiencing symptoms they believed to be a cold. After several days of up-and-down symptoms, they went to an urgent care facility for a COVID test and their health went downhill from there, the family told CNN.Dick was admitted to Coshocton Regional Medical Center on Jan. 2 and Shirley followed two days later, said the family. Both experienced difficulty breathing.As their condition declined, they needed to be transferred to a second hospital. At the time, there was a chance the two would be transferred to separate hospitals, but the staff helped to advocate that they would both be transferred to Riverside Methodist Hospital."From Jan. 8 to the end it just kind of went up and down," Howell said. "There were days that we were really optimistic that they were going to get through, but their lungs kept failing more and more each day."When the care team told the family their parents only had a few more days to live, they asked for their parents to be placed in the same room. "We didn't want them separated because that was their biggest thing in life that they would be together," said Howell."We wanted them to be holding hands. We wanted them to be together. We wanted their favorite music to be playing softly in the background," she told CNN. And the hospital staff made it happen.A nurse made a two-hour playlist of the couple's favorite songs and played them as they held hands for the last time. Shirley was the first to pass, and then Dick."The nurse put my mom's head on my dad's shoulder. And she walked over and she rubbed my dad's shoulder and said 'Dick, you can go now. Shirley's waiting for you,'" Howell said. "And within minutes, he was gone."The family said they feel lucky that their parents were able to pass hand in hand and thanked the hospital staff for helping them to honor their love story.According to Dick and Shirley's obituary, a celebration of their lives will take place this summer. "COVID took their lives from us, so we beg you all to be safe," said the family.

Childhood sweethearts who were inseparable during their 70 years of marriage died of COVID-19 while holding hands in an Ohio hospital, their family told CNN.

Dick Meek, 89, and Shirley Meek, 87, passed away within minutes of each other on Jan. 16 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, the family said.

"They never had to go through 'until death do us part,'" said their daughter Debbie Howell. "They never had to do that because they were together and we're ever so grateful."

The couple was scheduled for their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 19, her dad's 90th birthday. "They were that close," said daughter Vicci Harper.

The Coschcoton, Ohio, couple met in high school and were together ever since. "You read love at first sight and you think it's not true," said the family. "Well, it was love at first sight for my dad." They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Dec. 22.

Parents to five children, 13 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren they lived a full life of passion, the family said. Their adventures ranged from traveling the world to skydiving to making appearances at special events for their grandchildren, even in old age. Most importantly, they always made time to be together, having a standing date scheduled for 3 p.m. on each day to toast to each other, .

"They weren't your typical 88- and 90-year-old," Debbie Howell told CNN. "They were both very, very healthy, very vibrant people with of all their faculties. They just went down so fast."

The couple tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 26 after experiencing symptoms they believed to be a cold. After several days of up-and-down symptoms, they went to an urgent care facility for a COVID test and their health went downhill from there, the family told CNN.

Dick was admitted to Coshocton Regional Medical Center on Jan. 2 and Shirley followed two days later, said the family. Both experienced difficulty breathing.

As their condition declined, they needed to be transferred to a second hospital. At the time, there was a chance the two would be transferred to separate hospitals, but the staff helped to advocate that they would both be transferred to Riverside Methodist Hospital.

"From Jan. 8 to the end it just kind of went up and down," Howell said. "There were days that we were really optimistic that they were going to get through, but their lungs kept failing more and more each day."

When the care team told the family their parents only had a few more days to live, they asked for their parents to be placed in the same room. "We didn't want them separated because that was their biggest thing in life that they would be together," said Howell.

"We wanted them to be holding hands. We wanted them to be together. We wanted their favorite music to be playing softly in the background," she told CNN. And the hospital staff made it happen.

A nurse made a two-hour playlist of the couple's favorite songs and played them as they held hands for the last time. Shirley was the first to pass, and then Dick.

"The nurse put my mom's head on my dad's shoulder. And she walked over and she rubbed my dad's shoulder and said 'Dick, you can go now. Shirley's waiting for you,'" Howell said. "And within minutes, he was gone."

The family said they feel lucky that their parents were able to pass hand in hand and thanked the hospital staff for helping them to honor their love story.

According to Dick and Shirley's , a celebration of their lives will take place this summer. "COVID took their lives from us, so we beg you all to be safe," said the family.

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