Just weeks after celebrating their 63rd wedding anniversary, Richard and Evelyn Walker both died of natural causes — within two days of each other.

Their daughter-in-law, Lesli Walker, said Richard and Evelyn were sweethearts and they did everything together. She says it makes sense, in a way, that they died that way, too.

“It’s hard for us, but I’m glad that they’re together,” Lesli said. “I’m sure that they are, too.”

Richard, 85, who had pneumonia and was experiencing kidney failure, died on Jan. 25. Evelyn, 84, who had a thoracic aortic aneurysm, died on Jan. 27.

Their funeral services have been set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Island Park LDS Chapel.

The couple lived in Arimo, located in Bannock County, for about 12 years, but had been living near their son, Gregory Walker, and his wife, Lesli, in Island Park in recent years.

Lesli said they took Richard to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls on Jan. 14, after he started feeling unwell. She noted that he only agreed to go after ensuring that his wife would be watched over while he was gone.

But three days later Evelyn was also admitted to the hospital after she started experiencing pain in her back, neck and arms.

After multiple X-rays and a CT scan, doctors discovered that Evelyn had a large aneurysm near her heart, and they made plans to operate on her the next day.

Lesli said the surgery went well and Evelyn seemed to be doing much better. She was even able to stop by her husband’s room, which was on another floor, a couple of times — once while she was being taken to her room in a wheelchair and once when she was able to go for a short walk.

“He was sleeping, but she waved at him even though he didn’t know she was there,” Lesli said.

But Evelyn soon took another turn for the worse, and doctors discovered another aneurysm. They didn’t think it was wise to perform a second operation so soon, but they kept doing whatever else they could to help her.

In the meantime, Richard wasn’t doing well either.

“He knew he was dying,” Lesli said, adding that he asked to be taken off his oxygen and heart medications. “He wasn’t going to do dialysis anymore. He wanted to let nature take its course.”

The next day, nurses took him off of everything, as he had requested, and a short time later, he passed away. But not before his wife was given a chance to see him.

A special Intensive Care Unit nurse and other staff helped Evelyn to get to his room in time to say goodbye, according to Lesli.

“When they got her to the door, she and my dad looked at each other,” Lesli said, adding that they pushed her mother-in-law’s wheelchair up beside her husband so she could hold his hand. “She grabbed on and he grabbed on and they held each other’s hands until he passed away just 20 minutes later.”

Utah resident Joyce Canning, who was able to spend a lot of time at the hospital before Richard and Evelyn, her grandparents, died, also noted the sweet moment that occurred between the couple.

“Words aren’t necessary when you have so much love and you know somebody so well,” Canning said.

Richard’s death came faster than expected, and many family members weren’t able to get there in time, Lesli said. But the family members did have a chance to see Evelyn before she died, two days later.

That, too, was a special experience for the family.

“Twenty minutes before she passed, she opened her eyes and looked up at the ceiling and raised her hand up,” Lesli said, adding that she believes Evelyn was reaching for her husband’s hand and that they are now together.

Richard and Evelyn celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on Dec. 30 — less than a month before they died. The couple had seven children, 21 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren, according to their obituary.

Richard was a microbiologist and pharmacist during his career.

“He knew a lot about everything,” Lesli said, adding that he was intellectual and enjoyed talking about medical-related topics.

She says he was also generous, donating to schools, children’s hospitals and veterans organizations among others, and helping his grandchildren out whenever they needed it.

“No one really knew how generous he was,” Lesli said.

Evelyn worked as a registered nurse before she retired.

“She was the kindest, sweetest woman and was always proper,” Lesli said, but added that her mother-in-law also had a sense of humor.

The day before she passed away, someone asked her how she was feeling. She responded, “I feel with my fingers,” Lesli said.

“She was a good momma and a very sweet lady,” Lesli said.

Canning said her grandparents had a special bond and they always did everything together. They worked on things together and gardened together, and when Richard went fishing, Evelyn took a book to read and went along.

Their deaths have been a bittersweet experience for their loved ones, who were sad to let them go, but also grateful that they were able to go together.

“I love that neither one of them had to live without the other,” Canning said.

She also expressed her appreciation for the many nurses at EIRMC who helped her grandparents and their family during this difficult time.