Today's tributes to Erma Byrd, wife of Sen. Robert Byrd

I'm starting this as a seperate thread as the original announcement thread has gotten quite long. If others here see tributes in their own papers today, care to share them here?

This is the piece in this morning's Charleston Gazette. http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/200603261

Erma Byrd dies at 88

By Susan Williams
Staff writer

The high school sweetheart U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd married almost 69 years ago, Erma Ora James Byrd, died Saturday at their home in McLean, Va.

Byrd and members of their family were with her when she died. She was 88 and had been ill for about five years, members of Byrd’s office explained when they announced her death.

“I wish that more people could know the joy I have had in finding one’s soulmate early in life and then sharing that deep companionship over many happy years,” Byrd said....

MORE...

Last year my aunt died at about that age and 3 weeks later my uncle died. You see this in the paper over and over.

my Dad also. My Mom and Dad have been married for 58 years now. My Mom has been critically ill and in the hospital, where I have been spending my days and nights, along with my Dad and other family members this past week. She had a heart attack (it was a week this past Thursday), went into kidney failure, and also has neoplasm of the lungs that is highly suspicious of carcinoma with metastasis to rib cage and possibly involvement of three lymph nodes. The Cardiologist can't perform a cardiac cath yet due to the kidney function. The Pulmonologist can't biopsy the neoplasm of the lungs until the kidney function improves. So both of those physicians are waiting for the Nephrologist to give the ok for them to do their jobs. She also has possible bleeding somewhere, with a hemoglobin level of 7 point something and they have had to transfuse blood. Her hemoglobin level went up to 11.2 which was great, but now has dropped back down to 8 something. She also has a GI checking her out, but his hands are also tied until the Nephrologist gives a go-ahead for him. She is also Septic so that has to be taken care of with very strong antibiotics. All-in-all, she has not been doing well.

My point being, is that my Dad refuses to believe that my Mom most likely has lung cancer. He gets angry with me when I mention it, and he is still saying "pneumonia", even after the pulmonologist told us that he does not think that she has pneumonia. Anyway, I have had a horrible time trying to make my Dad leave and get some rest himself. She is his soul mate, and when Mom passes, I know that Dad will not be far behind.

I guess that my other point is that my heart goes out to Senator Byrd and his family. When you have had such a close companionship as they have had, losing that has to be one of life's most heart-breaking experiences.

His mother took his father to the hospital and he died and she came home and died. Like in 2 hours they were both gone. Being a loner I really do not under stand being so wrapped up with some one but it sure happens a lot so must be some thing to it. I have met married people who do seem like one person. I just do not understand how they get that way but must be some comfort in it of it would not happen so often.

but 69 years with one's soulmate is rare.