Calif. couple born same day, wedded 75 years, die one day apart

LONG BEACH, Calif. A Southern California husband and wife who were born on the same day and celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last year have died just a day apart.

The couple's son Les Brown Jr. tells the Long Beach Press-Telegram Thursday that 94-year-old Helen Brown died July 16 and 94-year-old Les Brown died July 17. She had stomach cancer. He had Parkinson's disease.

The Browns were born on New Year's Eve, 1918. Their son said his parents met in high school and eloped in 1937 at age 18 because their parents thought the marriage between a wealthy man and a working-class woman would never last. Last September they celebrated their 75th anniversary.

The couple moved to Long Beach in 1963. He was a photographer, she sold real estate.

They'll have a joint memorial service Saturday.

"My mom often said she didn't want to see my father die, and he didn't want to live without her," Daniel, the couple's youngest son, told the Long Beach Press-Telegram.