Couple married for 71 years die hours apart on the same day

A love story for the ages has gained national attention after a Georgia couple who was married 71 years passed away only hours apart on the same day.

Herbert DeLaigle, 94, died early Friday morning in Augusta, Georgia and his wife, 88-year-old Frances Delaigle, died just 12 hours later.

Their lifelong romance began at a cafe in Waynesboro, where they first laid eyes on each other when Herbert was 22 and Frances was 16-years-old.

In a 2018 interview, Herbert told WRDW: ‘Frances worked at a little cafe we had in Waynesboro named White Way Cafe.’ ‘I kept seeing her going in and out, in and out and I had my eyes set on her. And then I finally got up the nerve to ask her if she would go out with me sometime.’

They went on a first date at a local movie theater. One year later, Herbert asked Frances to be his wife.

He said: ‘I asked her will she have me as her husband and she said of course.’

The couple’s family released a statement Friday that said: ‘It’s amazing how they were together for 71 years and now they are together in Heaven. what an amazing love story that is.’