Mo. Couple Married 60 Years Die of Coronavirus Less Than an Hour Apart

A Missouri husband and wife who would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary later this month died less than an hour apart of complications from COVID-19.
Bill, 85, and Pat Olwig, 83, both died on May 1, just days after testing positive for coronavirus and being placed in the intensive care unit, family members told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
They were remembered as dedicated parents to their seven children, 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and active parishioners at St. Ferdinand in Florissant and St. Joe’s of Cottleville, according to their joint obituary.
“They were wonderful role models, dear friends to so many and unconditionally loved their entire family,” the obituary read. “They were most proud of the family they created and were the most happy when all were together.”

The couple first met on a double date in the 1950s, and shared an instant spark after Bill reached under the table to touch Pat’s knee, their only daughter Rose told the Post-Dispatch.
“Mom always said that’s all it took. Right then she knew he was the right one,” she said.
They married in May 1959, and Bill went on to co-own the sheet metal business C&R Mechanical, while Pat worked as a preschool teacher and also served as a religion instructor for special education students.