Not everyone can say that have had love that lasted a lifetime, but Isabelle
Whitney and Preble Staver absolutely had that kind of love. The two met
before World War II and were together until the very end.
Preble served in the Marines and his wife joined him as a nurse in the
Navy. They were married in 1946 and raised five children together. They
really knew what it meant to stay by each other’s side for better or worse.
They were married more than 70 years and Laurie Staver Clinton, one of
the couple’s children explained that her dad was a bit of a prickly pear, but
her mom taught her that you can’t always change a person, but you can
change your attitude towards them.
Eventually Isabell started suffering from dementia, and although the
couple started out in a care facility together, Isabell eventually had to stay
in a separate room. Even though Isabell forgot many people, she never
forgot Preble. Some people would have to remind her who they were, but
when she spotted Preble, she always got a little smile on her face.
When Preble turned 93 years old, he only had one request. For his birthday
he wanted to spend time with his wife. The staff worked to make that
happen, and the two spent three hours together resting and napping. The
two didn’t need to speak to feel each other’s comfort. They simply held
hands together and slept.
On October 25, Laurie received the phone call that her mother had passed.
She rushed to the hospital with Preble. He held his wife’s hand and was
very gentle with her
Laurie asked her father if he wanted to stay with her after the prayers
were said, but he shook his head no. “I was crying and he was crying,” said
Laurie. “Okay, but you know that means you’re going to have to let go of
her hand?” she asked her father.
Just a few hours after his wife’s passing Preble also passed away. It seems
like these lovebirds were destined not only to live together forever, but to
die together too.
The video below is of a 92-year-old man who sings to his wife. These two
couples are a reminder of what true love really is. Be sure to share these
amazing stories with your family and friends. What an inspiration they
are!