Couple married for 50 years die of Covid within days of each other after moving into a care home – as daughter pays tribute to ‘perfect’ pair who ‘loved each other hopelessly’
- Valerie and Kenneth Hibberd were aged 42 and 49 when they got married
- The couple died last month aged 91 and 98 after contracting Covid-19
- Their daughter Caroline, 46, said her parents were known for their charity work
- The couple lived in Hinchley Wood, Surrey for most of their married lives
A couple from Surrey who were married for 50 years died within days of each other after they moved to a care home and were both infected with coronavirus.
Valerie and Kenneth Hibberd, who were ‘always being kind, thinking of others and had time for everybody’ both tested positive for the virus despite isolating for two weeks before entering the home.
Their only daughter Caroline, 46, spoke of how her father seemed to ‘just have a cold’ until his wife passed away from Covid pneumonia.
Valerie and Kenneth Hibberd, pictured, who were married for 50 years, died within days of each other having contracted Covid-19
The couple from Surrey, pictured with their four-year-old grand daughter Niamh, had one daughter, Caroline
Caroline said: ‘He got a lot worse after that point. She was his guiding light and compass, he was devastated and lost without her.
‘Together, they were just the most perfect couple who loved each other hopelessly. Everybody wanted to be around them because there was just chemistry.’
They tested positive by New Year’s Eve after moving into Sunrise care home in December. Mrs Hibberd died on January 6, aged 91 while Mr Hibberd passed away on January 17 at the age of 98.
Both had stage four heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
The couple lived in Hinchley Wood for the majority of their married life. The couple married when Val was 42 and Ken was 49. They had their only child, Caroline, two years later.
The couple were renowned for their work in the local community and raising money for charity
The couple married when Mrs Hibberd, pictured, was aged 42 and her husband was 49. They had their only daughter, Caroline, two years later
Speaking about her parents: ‘It is said that if there was anything that needed sorting out, mum and dad would be the first who would say,
“What can I do to help?”
‘Someone wrote a card saying “when things are back to normal, it will be really sad that the Hibberd’ aren’t there”.
They gave to the community by fundraising for the church at a fête in Hinchley Wood every year.
Caroline said: ‘Mum was chair of the women’s fellowship at the Holy Trinity Church Claygate for around 11 years. They taught at the children’s church and summer clubs.’
They had a swimming pool at the back of their home, which Caroline said they used to ‘great effect’ as they would invite everyone for a swim and hosted parties.
Their daughter Caroline said the couple regularly hosted parties for the local community in their garden
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