Ohio couple die minutes from COVID-19 after 70 years of marriage

COSHOCTON COUNTY, Ohio – The growing number of deaths from COVID-19 has devastated many families on a personal level. One example illustrates this like no other.

An Ohio couple who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary died within minutes of each other, leaving behind seven decades of memories, five children, 13 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

Dick and Shirley Meek celebrated their birthdays on December 22. It was then that they innocently told their children that they felt a bit under the weather.

“They said to all of us kids, ‘we think we have a cold,’” said Kelly Meek. But all of a sudden things took a turn for the worse and it was obvious it wasn’t just cold.

On January 8, they both tested positive for COVID-19. When things started to get worse for the two of them, the family requested that they be together for their last moments. Hospital staff found a room for two beds and the necessary equipment.

Dick and Shirley died in each other’s arms on January 16. They were due to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on January 19.

“They were holding hands and mum’s head was on daddy’s shoulder,” Debbie Meek Howell said.

Shirley was 87, Dick recently turned 90. The family said they enjoyed all the fruits of life, from skydiving to ziplining and traveling the world. Every day at 3 p.m., they found time to have an appointment.

“My parents were blessed to walk together through the gates of heaven into eternity without ever having to face ‘until death do us part’. How many people can say that? Said Debbie.