Couple Who Served in WWII Together, Married For 70 Years, Pass Away On Same Day

Mar 25, 2019 by apost team

Whether or not you believe in soulmates, it's hard not to feel like fate was involved in the case of Preble Staver and Isabelle Whitney. The two met on a blind date and served through World War II together and enjoyed 70 blissful years of marriage before time ultimately took them both away on the same day.

When you love someone long enough, your entire life falls in sync with theirs. Old habits you once performed alone now seem incomplete without the other person by your side. Many relationships don't last, but the one that's truly meant for you, the love that you have read about and longed for your entire life, that love changes everything. It seems like Preble and Isabelle were always meant to see the world as one.

Born just two weeks apart on October 17 and 31, 1921, Preble and Isabelle met on a blind date. The two became inseparable from their first meeting.

When World War II began, Preble fought as a Marine while Isabelle served as a nurse in the Navy. The two were separated for five months before reuniting on February 15, 1946 - the day after Valentine's Day.

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It didn't take long for Preble and Isabelle to settle down and start a family. Preble worked as a lobbyist and banker, and his job took him and his family across the country. The Stavers lived in multiple states including Florida, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Together, Preble and Isabelle parented five children. Laurie Staver, one of their daughters, describes her father as having a "larger than life" personality. She credits her mother for teaching her "how to be a kind person, how to be a compassionate person."

Laurie, 63, recounts the change in her parents after the death of her brother, Peter, during a football game in his senior year of high school, according to The Greatest Generations Foundation.

"At that point, we began to really see a softer side of my dad. Parents aren’t supposed to bury their kids and that really took a toll on my folks, but it also brought them together. Something like that can either tear a couple apart, but they made a pact to get through it together. They really were each other’s support team."

The family had their fair share of ups and downs, just like anyone else. In 2013, Isabelle began to show signs of dementia. Dementia includes memory loss, cognitive decline and deteriorated thinking abilities that are often caused by Alzheimer' disease.

To ensure that Isabelle got the quality medical attention and care she needed, the couple moved to an assisted living facility. Unfortunately, the two were unable to share a room. Although they weren't far from one another, the distance was especially painful for Preble, who had to watch his wife slip further away amidst her disease.

Although this wasn't the best time of their life, the couple's commitment didn't falter. "They just found different ways to express their love," Laurie explains. Preble would wheel himself to his wife's special memory care unit at the facility to spend time with her.

Laurie says the couple always greeted each other the same way: "They would hold each other's hands and tell each other how much they loved each other."

 On his 96th birthday, Preble had just one wish: to nap beside his wife one more time. The two did not exchange a single word when his wish was granted. They simply held hands and slumbered peacefully beside one another.

On October 25, 2017, Isabelle passed away. Preble was by her side as she drew her last breath. Just 14 hours later, he followed suit. Their amazing love story spanned the course of 71 years. Although their loss carried a heavy burden, their love also left a strong impression on their children and those who were fortunate enough to witness their beautiful union.

"Mom and dad really lived out that, if you make a commitment, and even though life gets rough or life gets in the way, you work through life. And you live your life together," Laurie says.

Who wouldn't want a love story like Preble and Isabelle's? In the modern dating scene, falling in love and finding someone sincere seems impossible, and many people choose not to marry at all. Even more, people struggle to find a genuine commitment that isn't based off conditions or selfish expectations. 

According to Meredith Hansen, Psy.D, a clinical psychologist who specializes in couple's counseling, the secret to a healthy relationship is commitment underscored by love.

"Being in love does not guarantee that a relationship will work," she says. "Relationships require also compatibility and relationship skills on the part of both parties. But the “in love” requirement is a must. Relationships are not easy for they bring us to the deepest parts of ourselves. Therefore, being in love must be an aspect of any healthy long-term commitment and being sure that it is love, therefore, is an intensely important first step.”

No one can guarantee that their love will last a lifetime, so the best we can do is to cherish our relationships here and now and do our best to ensure that we give our partner what they deserve You may not always feel like you're a delirious, heart-eyed teenager, but you can certainly maintain a long-lasting, deep love with enough patience, passion and perseverance.

Tell us your best relationship advice in the comments! What do you think about the couple's story? We think it deserves being passed on to all our friends and loved ones to raise awareness of this beautiful story of commitment and compassion. Let's spread some love today.