Couple, Both 100, Die Hours Apart From Each Other After Being Married for 79 Years | “They First Met at a Church”

Centennials Hubert and June Malicote were married in June 1943 and died just 20 hours apart.

Cover Image Source: YouTube | WLWT

By Shruti Menon

December 9, 2022

Posted December 9, 2022

Hubert and June Malicote, an Ohio couple who had been married for 79 years, died last week just hours apart. Hubert died before his wife "by only hours, marking the end of their 81-year-love story," according to his obituary.

June died on the afternoon of December 1, 20 hours after Hubert died, their 76-year-old son, Sam Malicote, told The Dayton Daily News. "I feel sad, but I shouldn't. Who can expect to live a life like that?" he told the newspaper. "They went out together," he added. "They lived a long, happy life together and they were devoted to God and the family.” The couple who tied the knot on June 8, 1943, went on to welcome three children, 7 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Ohio Couple, Both 100, Die Hours Apart After 79 Years of Marriage: 'They Went Out Together' https://t.co/smUusyxIVF
— People (@people) December 6, 2022

The family had celebrated an early Thanksgiving when Sam's mother became ill and entered hospice care to receive end-of-life care. Hubert just “broke down.”

“He fell apart, really,” Sam said after he saw his wife's deteriorating health. Hubert was then admitted to hospice as well. After being unconscious for days in the same room, the 76-year-old said that his father died of a "broken heart." Both born in July 1922, Hubert and June met at church in 1941 when they were 19 years old in their home state of Kentucky. At the time the pair spent two years apart while Hubert was stationed in Hawaii during World War II. They stayed in touch and June was waiting for him when he returned. The rest, as they say, was history. “When I saw her, I said she’ll be a good one,” Hubert told WKRC-TV in July, as they celebrated their centennial birthdays and anniversary milestone.

Couple married 79 years die hours apart from each other: 'They went out together' https://t.co/MGFMCUBuQL pic.twitter.com/3KdT4vuB7F
— New York Post (@nypost) December 7, 2022

And what's the secret to their long-lasting relationship? “We didn’t go through life without problems, but we would never do anything to hurt each other,” Hubert told Today back in June. “If there’s controversy, you might have to walk away for a couple of minutes. Then you come back in and change the subject or you work it out.”

The two had been married since they were 20 and they said they have never had a quarrel. Hubert added, “We’ve never really gone out much. When the kids were younger we were happy sitting around the table sharing stories about our day,” he said. “We’ve had a wonderful life.” Their daughter Jo told the outlet that the pair "hold hands and say goodnight to each other" every night. "Then in the morning, they are so happy to see each other," she added. "They greet each other with huge smiles."