Daughter of the late couple Karen Kreager noted, ‘The most important thing for us was that they were together.’

An elderly couple who had been married for almost 70 years were able to spend their last moments holding hands in a hospital in Tennessee.

According to his obituary, Tommy Stevens passed away on September 8 at the age of 91, one day before

the couple’s 69th wedding anniversary. Virginia, his 91-year-old wife, passed away nine days later.

The couple’s daughter, Karen Kreager, told the VUMC Voice of Vanderbilt University Medical Center that her parents

‘both lit up’ when they saw one another during their reunion at the hospital prior to his passing.

When Kreager entered, her father was awake, according to Kreager. He had open eyes. He was mainly whispering to himself, not saying anything at all.

But he was aware that she was present and would soon be standing next to him. They remained hand in hand the entire time.

Doyle Thomas ‘Tommy’ Stevens Jr. and Virginia McKarem attended Dobyns-Bennett High School and were both from Kingsport,

Tennessee, according to his obituary. Later, they both attended the University of Tennessee, and on September 9, 1954, they got married.

After serving as a first lieutenant in the American Army, Tommy started his career as a transportation manager for Burlington Industries,

according to his obituary. Later on, he established Distribution and Transportation Services, Inc.

Virginia was involved with the neighborhood church, school, and civic organizations in addition to working with Tommy at DTS, according to her obituary.

Karen and Greg, the couple’s two children, were born and raised in Memphis, where Tommy and Virginia resided.

The couple relocated to Franklin after they retired in order to be close to their kids and grandchildren.

According to VUMC Voice, the veteran suffered Alzheimer’s illness in his advanced years. He and Virginia

were living in an assisted living facility when he was transferred to a memory care section.

According to the hospital, Tommy was transported to VUMC due to breathing problems and dangerously low blood pressure.

There, he was identified as having sepsis and pneumonia and later transferred to the Palliative Care Unit when further treatment was no longer feasible.

Tommy was taken to the hospital on the same day that Virginia, who had fallen, was also taken there.

Virginia, who had six broken ribs, a spine fracture, and a hip injury, was admitted to the Trauma ICU at VUMC.

The VUMC staff brought the couple together to make it easier for the couple’s family to see Tommy at the Palliative Care Unit and Virginia at the Trauma ICU separately.

Virginia was first placed in a room next to Tommy’s and then a bed was placed beside his so Virginia could be with him to comfort him.

Virginia said to VUMC Voice, ‘You know, it helped me a lot.’ ‘The fact that I wouldn’t have to worry about him just brought me comfort. He was accompanying me.

Tommy and Virginia were captured in a family snapshot from their hospital beds holding hands.

According to Karlekar, ‘She was able to tell me Monday that she was at peace with what was happening and she wanted to be there until the end.’

Tommy went away with Virginia and their family by his side. Then, on September 17, Virginia passed away surrounded by relatives.