Long-time Long Beach couple die a day apart

[Musky]

Long-time Long Beach couple die a day apart

Helen and Les Brown celebrated their 75th anniversay this year

By Ashleigh Ruhl, Special to the Press-Telegram

Posted:   07/25/2013 05:39:37 PM PDT

Updated:   07/26/2013 06:47:38 AM PDT

 

Helen and Les Brown

 

Their friends and family agree -- if two people ever were "made for each other," it was Helen and Les Brown.

Both were born on the same day, Dec. 31, 1918. Helen and Les were high school sweethearts who celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary this year. It would be their last; Helen died on July 16, and Les died the next day, July 17.

 

They were 94.

 

"It was a real love match, wasn't it," their oldest son, Les Jr., said. "They were together every day for 75 years."

Daniel, the couple's youngest son, agreed.

 

"My mom often said she didn't want to see my father die, and he didn't want to live without her," Daniel said.

The two boys, sitting in their parents' Belmont Heights home, said their parents met at Huntington Park High School and eloped on Sept. 19, 1937. They were married against their own parents' wishes. Helen was from a working-class family, while Les was from a more wealthy family, and both sides of their family thought the love would never last between them.

 

But it did.

 

Helen and Les moved to Long Beach in 1963. Helen was a housewife who had a knack for buying and selling area properties, and Les owned a photography studio, serving as a photographer for the Navy. His father, too, was a photographer.

 

Despite being born on the same day, the Browns were two very different people, according to their sons, who said their mom was very strict and their dad was more laid back. And, like all married couples, they had some issues to work through during the years.

 

They were Jehovah's Witnesses, a faith that strengthened their marriage, the sons said. They reaffirmed their love for one another daily.

 

Besides spending time at Kingdom Hall for worship, the longtime Long Beach residents -- who had seven grandchildren -- were well known for taking in-state road trips together and were frequently found at Ma N' Pa Grocery, a corner store on Roycroft Avenue and Colorado Street. They also were close friends with many of their neighbors.

 

"They loved California, and they loved Belmont Shore and Belmont Heights," Les Jr. said. "They wouldn't leave ... And, Ma N' Pa Grocery treated them like royalty. Mom was there every day. That was her pantry."

One family friend, Bob Brobst, who belonged to the same congregation, had known Helen and Les for nearly a decade.

 

"Like the Bible says, 'They were as one,' " Brobst said, adding that he will always remember how compatible his friends were as a couple.

 

Les, who had Parkinson's disease, and Helen, who had developed stomach cancer, will have a joint memorial service. The public service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 5852 Belgrade Ave., Garden Grove. All are welcome.

 

Ashleigh Ruhl is an editor at the Grunion Gazettes.

http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_23733256/long-time-long-beach-couple-die-day-apart

 

Here is a video report:

 

http://on.aol.com/video/couple-married-75-years-die-one-day-apart-517871837?hp=1&playlist=127170&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl8%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D350130

Edited July 27, 2013 by Musky

[bohemian]

That is such a sad story. I wonder if they were of the anointed?  If not how wonderful for them to have the prospect of being reunited in the new system.

 

In our congregation there was a couple who were childhood sweethearts since they were 5, they played together (making homes etc in the park!).  Brother died about 6 years ago of cancer, having served as an elder for many years. She still serves as a regular pioneer which she has done for many years.  She is now over 80 and is planning her funeral.  She has her husband's ashes and plans for them to be scattered together in the same park where they played as children.

 

It is really moving.

[feather]

a sweet yet sad story...

 

    75 yrs together... the laughs they must have shared together

[sunshine]

That's sweet but sad, what a despicable enemie death is!

 

 The shock of being sepatated was evidently too much but how wonderful that they will just sleep and Wake up to find each other again. I do like to think of them as being anointed, wouldn't that be a reunion. Either way "He will call, the dead will answer.."