Couple married 58 years die hours apart

Their love spanned six decades.

George Rodriguez first saw Ora Lee when he was working as a butcher, their daughter Corina Martinez told WOAI.

After serving as a Marine, the two married June 1, 1958 and raised three daughters.

"I just can't believe something like this would ever happen. You hear this on the movies… like 'The Notebook,'" Martinez told WOAI.

>> Read more trending stories

The couple got dementia and George suffered a stroke a few months ago.

They were beside each other holding hands surrounded by their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren when George died at 8:48 p.m. July 5. Hours later, Ora Lee died at 12:08 a.m. July 6.

They were 78 years old.

"My mother would always say that she was going to take my father or vice versa, and it did happen. We didn't think it would, but it did," daughter Georgia Perez told WOAI.

About the Author