Ronald and Linda Oman Born 2 Hours Apart ,Married 58 Years,Die 3 Days Apart

**Whisper** · April 28th, 2012, 12:41 AM

Ronald and Linda Oman

Wife dies at husband's visitation
Ronald and Linda Oman were 'match made in heaven'

RICHLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - A husband and wife of 58 years, born only hours apart at the same hospital, died only three days apart last week.

Ronald Clark Oman, Sr. died April 16, only six weeks after being diagnosed with cancer. His wife Linda Mae Oman was with him -- along with several family members -- when he died.

"She said, 'Ron, I will see you soon,' and we -- my sisters and I -- were in the background saying, 'No, Mom, we need you around here for a while,'" daughter Debbie Oman Monfre recalled.

Linda died April 19 during her husband's visitation at a local funeral home.

Ron -- also called "Papa Smurf" -- and Linda were born October 15, 1936 at Borgess Medical Center, according to an obituary from Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Directors. Linda was born only two hours before Ron. The two were delivered by the same doctor.

"It was literally a match made in heaven," son Ron Oman, Jr. told 24 Hour News 8.

Ron and Linda spend their lives in the same area, graduating Richland High School together in 1954.

That summer, at age 17, with the permission of parents and a judge, the two were married.

"I don't think we realized growing up what a great love story this was," said Debbie.

The couple had nine children -- five daughters and four sons.

"They were different in a lot of ways, but they complimented each other. His strengths were her weaknesses. Her strengths were his weaknesses," said Ron Jr.

All nine of those children were present when Linda died on Thursday.

"She had always said, 'That's how I want Ronnie and I to go, because I can't live without him,'" said Debbie.

They had 16 grandchildren and a dozen great-granchildren.

Linda worked for Gull Lake Community Schools for 25 years. Ron was a machinist and spent 10 years with the Stryker Corporation.

A memorial service in honor of the Omans was held Wednesday afternoon at the funeral home and the couple was buried soon after at a Richland cemetery.
[...]

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local...ion?hpt=us_bn6

Ronald and Linda Oman
really good video at link

**AngelFire** · April 28th, 2012, 12:57 AM

Ahhh I envy the love the had for one another. RIP Lovebirds

**Starbuck** · May 7th, 2012, 10:18 AM

While i'm not married (I think people should be at least 40 before you get married, i've seen more fail than thrive) that does warm my cold, hard heart a bit.

**LeaveMeBe** · May 7th, 2012, 10:44 AM

Awwwwww! What a great feel good story to start the week off with. Really, thanks for this @Whisper.

**TKaz** · May 7th, 2012, 12:03 PM

Makes you wonder if she was sick (secretly) or if a person has enough will to go exactly when they want.
I don't need to be beside my husband 24/7, I appreciate that we can do our own thing - but I really can't imagine living without him for 5, 10, 20 years as a widow.
But he's 8 yrs older & I have high cholesterol so maybe we'll even things out. :)

**Whisper** · May 7th, 2012, 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by TKaz

Makes you wonder if she was sick (secretly) or if a person has enough will to go exactly when they want.
I don't need to be beside my husband 24/7, I appreciate that we can do our own thing - but I really can't imagine living without him for 5, 10, 20 years as a widow.
But he's 8 yrs older & I have high cholesterol so maybe we'll even things out. :)

I was married as a teen and we are still married
Not sure I wanna be around him for 58 years (yes I do actually) but this year is 28

I believe they can lose their will to die
b/c my moms aunt and uncle were married decades and foster parents all those years b/c they couldnt have kids
But they were super in love and when he died of brain cancer she was healthy and she died of natural causes but dr said it was broken heart
my grand dad died and my grandmother was devastated and within a month she died in her sleep and she had been to dr that day and was fine

**Obsolete** · May 7th, 2012, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Starbuck

While i'm not married (I think people should be at least 40 before you get married, i've seen more fail than thrive) that does warm my cold, hard heart a bit.

I don't know, that means a lot of women having children later in life, which means higher pregnancy risks. I don't think there is a greater success for marriage if you marry later in life, I know quite a few people who married very young and are still together. Like Whisper, I've been with my hubby since I was a teen and we're still together, I don't think we're the exception to the rule either, I have lots of friends who have been together just as long.

I hope I go before, or directly after my husband. I can't imagine a life without him.

**Starbuck** · May 7th, 2012, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Obsolete

I don't know, that means a lot of women having children later in life, which means higher pregnancy risks. I don't think there is a greater success for marriage if you marry later in life, I know quite a few people who married very young and are still together. Like Whisper, I've been with my hubby since I was a teen and we're still together, I don't think we're the exception to the rule either, I have lots of friends who have been together just as long.

I hope I go before, or directly after my husband. I can't imagine a life without him.

I can see your point. And congrats, always nice to see when they work. And can see the point about having kids when you're older making it harder. Dunno though. Maybe it's just not for me.

**TKaz** · May 7th, 2012, 04:51 PM

We're only in year 11 (married for 6) but we married in our 30's....I think it helps if you have good role models. He & I didn't but then, we were older when we tied the knot too. Had the kids before the marriage because we're backwards.

I do think that people who've been together for 50 yrs definitely came from a different time. Either you played the hand you were dealt, worked it out, or shoved it under the rug (my grandparents who were married until death).

I also think it can work if you don't assume it will. We fight, but then we calm down & talk it out. We have to work at it, afterall anything in life is really only worthwhile if you work for it. And that goes for both parties, not just one.

My great grandparents went this way. He passed, she cut off all her hair, then she passed. Within months though & they were very old.

**AngelFire** · May 7th, 2012, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by TKaz

Makes you wonder if she was sick (secretly) or if a person has enough will to go exactly when they want.
I don't need to be beside my husband 24/7, I appreciate that we can do our own thing - but I really can't imagine living without him for 5, 10, 20 years as a widow.
But he's 8 yrs older & I have high cholesterol so maybe we'll even things out. :)

I do believe that you can will yourself to die. My grandma is the first person that gave me that notion that you ARE capable of willing yourself to die. She had 6 kids all together and there was just one who paid attention to her needs. He made sure she was taken out for to have a good time. Made sure that if he and his wife were going out on the weekend, he would take her along. Those were her only time to enjoy something other than home. No one, not one of her kids cared about her needs like he did. He was also the “black sheep’ of the family. The one sibling that was ornery, and always grouchy. But to his mom, my grandma, he was a good son. I think he was a good son too.

Then he died suddenly. He was always as healthy as a horse up until that last moment. So once he died, she started giving away her possessions. Started with simple things, and then progressed to her clothing. When she gave away all her possessions, she died. You never mourn as hard as when a person that was once full of life and without illness, dies suddenly. From that moment on, I believed that one could do that.