Till death do us part

Enice and Earl Lookabaugh

This is an "awwwwww"  I wanted to share with you. 

Till death do us part
December 11, 2008 at 12:08 pm
By EMILY MASTERS

Theirs is a story that began in 1942 with young love, after 66 years of marriage turned to seasoned love, and ended with a forever that both took to heart when they said their wedding vows.
Enice Lookabaugh, 82, of Raymond, died Saturday at Heartland of Marysville just shortly after her husband, Earl Lookabaugh, 88, also residing at Heartland, tearfully mumbled “I love you.”
Although Earl was suffering from Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer’s, family members said he knew his loving wife was entering into her last hours. Once she was gone, family members said it was peace, a peace of knowing Enice was OK, that allowed Earl to go as well. He died on Tuesday at Heartland.
“He was waiting on her to go, because he knew she couldn't handle him going,” said granddaughter Kim Bowen. “They were just that close, and I think God took care of them by it happening this way.”
Bowen believes her grandfather held onto life as best as he could after a heart attack a few years back which ended up landing him in Heartland.
“He stopped breathing and was given CPR to bring him back to life,” she said. “He could have died then, but he wanted to be with grandma.”
Enice was a breast cancer survivor who family members said lived for Earl, always visiting him at Heartland after his heart attack.
“The family made sure she always got to Heartland, to see grandpa,” said Bowen. “She would be anxiously waiting by the door with her hat, coat and scarf on ready to go see him.”
In their younger years, the two enjoyed fishing in Michigan.
“I remember one year he went fishing, and she didn't go with him,” said Bowen. “When he pulled into the driveway, she ran out hugging and kissing on him, there was so much love between them.”
Both Enice and Earl were happiest whenever their grandchildren were around.
“They would race to the door to see which one could grab the grandchild first,” said grandson Chad Davis. “I loved staying all night at their house, they were such an influence in my life.”
Earl was a longtime farmer who was employed by Champaign Landmark for more than 17 years. Enice was a homemaker, later employed by Chenille Products for 23 1/2 years.
The couple had five children, 21 grandchildren, and 33 great-grandchildren.
Bowen said her grandfather turned ornery whenever the grandchildren came over.
“Grandma would tell grandpa to do something, and grandpa would pretend he didn't hear her,” she remembered. “Then grandpa would chuckle and give us a wink.”
“The two loved to gripe at each other in a very tongue and cheek kind of way,” said Davis. “Grandma would say, 'That's enough, Earl!' while lovingly wiping the chewing tobacco off his chin.”
Usually at home together in Raymond, Enice baked while Earl worked in his woodshed.
Bowen said her grandmother confided that even if she and Earl got mad at one another, it was still a requirement to spoon, or cuddle, at night.
As her health continued to decline, Enice told staff at Heartland she was going to take Earl to heaven with her. Family members say she did just that.
Theirs, according to family members, is the kind of love story everyone can learn from.
Both stood true to the wedding vows: To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, 'till death do us part.
Enice and Earl, together in life, will remain together today as their family and friends gather to say good-bye.
Services for Enice and Earl Lookabaugh were held today at 11 a.m. at Mannasmith Funeral Home. Pastor Keith Daniels officiated and burial took place at Broadway Cemetery.