U.S.

Married 62 years, California couple dies 4 hours apart

/ AP

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - After nearly 62 years of marriage, little separated Don and Maxine Simpson - not even death.

The California couple died just four hours apart in July, spending their last moments side by side. He was 90 and she was 87.

Granddaughter Melissa Sloan tells The Bakersfield Californian that her grandmother died first, and when her body was taken away, Don Simpson's soul left with her.

The couple met at a Bakersfield, California, bowling alley and married in 1952. A civil engineer, Don at one point worked for the U.S. Army in Germany.

The couple adopted twin boys from a German orphanage and returned to Bakersfield, where she worked as a nurse and he owned his own engineering company.

The couple was active with local civic groups. They are survived by one son and five grandchildren.

In this July, 2014, photo provided by their granddaughter Melissa Stone, Don Simpson, 90, and his wife Maxine, 87, hold hands from adjoining hospice beds in Sloan's home in Bakersfield, Calif. The couple, married 62 years, died four hours apart July 21, 2014, while lying next to each other, their family said. AP Photo/Melissa Sloan

First published on August 5, 2014 / 11:55 AM EDT

© 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.