THEY had been married for more than 60 years and when death took Doris Hobley, Eddie simply couldn't go on.

The heartbroken widower, 84, suffered a fall and passed away just six days after his 86-year-old wife.

The couple had been married for 63 years and Eddie told his family that he could not live without his beloved wife and that he wanted to be with her.

Their 55-year-old son Frank Hobley told the Daily Echo: "Their lives were intertwined after 63 years together. They were very much in love. After she passed away we heard him say I'll be with you soon'."

Frank, a Telecom engineer, of Marchwood, added: "I'm sad to lose both parents so swiftly but I'm glad that my dad didn't have to bear the loss of my mum for too long."

Doris and Eddie met in a NAAFI canteen in 1944 when they were both stationed at the same Army camp near Derby. Eddie worked as a radar technician and Doris was serving in the ATS medical unit. They married less than a year later near Croydon and went on to have four sons - including a set of twins - and seven grandchildren.

After moving to Pooks Green in Marchwood in 1965, Eddie worked at the Mullards factory in Millbrook as a training officer. Doris was employed at the British Gas showroom in Above Bar Street, Southampton, as assistant manager. They both retired in 1982.

In December 1979 the wives of their 27-year-old twin sons made the front page of the Daily Echo after going into labour at the same time. Within 24 hours of each other they had both given birth to girls at near identical weights.

Celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary in December 2004, Eddie and Doris put their happiness down to "never going to bed on an argument".

The pair lived in Marchwood for 40 years before moving to the same nursing home just under two years ago.

A double funeral will take place at Southampton Crematorium on January 17 at 1pm.