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Floyd and Violet HartwigA married couple who had been married for 67 years died on the same day
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A Love That Endured
Floyd and Violet Hartwig, a couple united for 67 years, left no doubt about how they wished to spend the remainder of their lives. With the realization that the couple's time together was drawing to a close, their devoted children placed Floyd and Violet's hospital beds side by side, gently intertwining Floyd's hand in his wife's.
At the age of 90, Floyd passed away first. Five hours later, Violet, at 89, followed in his footsteps. Their deaths occurred on February 11, 2015, at home, as they had both desired. "They wanted to go together," said their daughter, Donna Sharpton. "It was supposed to be that way."
A Lifetime of Love
Floyd and Violet's journey began when they met as children in the farming community of Easton in central California. Their romance blossomed at a local dance hall when Floyd, a decorated Navy sailor, visited during his shore leave. They were married on August 16, 1947.
While Floyd was away serving his country, he kept the flame alive with love letters thatViolet cherished. "They were just meant to be together," Donna said. "Even people they met could tell they had something special."
Building a Family and Life Together
Once reunited, the couple welcomed three children into the world on their small farm where they raised cotton and turkeys. Along with helping on the farm, Violet tended to the household, waking each morning to cook her husband breakfast and see him off to work. Floyd worked as a ranch foreman and egg distributor.
The Hartwigs, who also had the joy of four grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, remained active until recently. But during a holiday gathering, the family noted Violet's dementia was progressing. In late January 2015, a doctor said Floyd had less than two weeks to live due to kidney failure.
A Final Embrace
With tender care, the couple's family transformed their farmhouse living room, removing sofas to accommodate hospital beds for Floyd and Violet. Their granddaughter, Cynthia Letson, said that after her grandfather passed away, Violet was told that she could finally rest. The family understood that Floyd was waiting for his beloved Violet.
Letson added that her grandparents served as a beacon of hope amidst a world where marriages often falter. "It would be nice if the world could go back to the basics of marriage. I don't think people realize the importance of it anymore. We need to get back to where it is understood that marriage is forever."
