Devoted husband and wife who died within days of each other after 60 years of marriage will be buried together holding hands

Sweethearts: The couple, pictured on their wedding day in March 1954, met in Sheffield as teenagers

A devoted couple who died within days of each other after 60 years of marriage will be laid to rest holding hands in a double coffin.

Veteran Victor Bower, 82, lost his battle with blood cancer on February 8. Just nine days later, his beloved wife, Elsie, 82, died in hospital after suffering from a number of medical problems.

The childhood sweethearts, who were married in March 1954, will be buried together on Monday

 

Devoted: Victor and Elsie Bower, who died within just nine days of each other after 60 years of marriage

 

Lasting love: Mr and Mrs Bower will be laid to rest together holding hands in this double coffin

Their daughter Sharon Bower, 54, said the couple met as teenagers and would not have wanted to be parted.

She said: 'They were always together. They used to cry a lot if they ever had to spend time apart. Although my mum had medical problems, it was a broken heart that she died from.