Indianapolis Couple Married 33 Years Dies of COVID-19 Just One Day Apart

An Indianapolis couple, Ron and Ann Wilkins, tragically passed away just a day apart after battling the novel coronavirus together for almost a month.

Early this month, tragedy struck an Indianapolis family. A couple married for 33 years, Earnest "Ronald" and Ann Wilkins, lost their battle to the new coronavirus and passed away just a day apart. Bryan, a friend close to them, said to NBC15:

"I'm very heartbroken because I loved Ann and Ron, just like my brother and sister, and I want people to take this serious."

Ronald, also affectionately called Ron, contracted the virus in December. They had been making plans for the new year and were hopeful that things would get better.

After contracting the virus, Ron, 66, and Ann, 59, hoped that they would be able to get the vaccine as soon as possible this year, not knowing that they would meet their tragic end.

Soon after their diagnosis, the Wilkins were hospitalized at the Saint Vincent Hospital and thereafter placed on ventilators. Ann died first, and days after, Ron joined her.

For most of his life, Ron reportedly struggled with cancer and diabetes. The 66-year-old was reportedly a music lover who enjoyed sports and spent a lot of time chatting with his friend, Bryan, over the phone.

Bryan reminisced on the times when he and Ron, who he referred to as his brother, would talk several times during the day over the phone. Their last conversation had Bryan encouraging Ron to go to the hospital to get checked.

The most tear-jerking part of his story was that he penned a love letter to his wife of over twenty years, Sonya, as a goodbye letter.

Ann, a public school teacher and union leader, was deeply committed to her job as an educator and made it her goal to see that kids were served well. She had also reportedly just finished radiation treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Since social distancing and quarantine restrictions began in March, the Wilkins were very committed to following all the regulations. Knowing that Ron's health needed extra care, they did their best not to get sick.

Ann's sister, Ruth Grissom, reportedly said that the couple's time in the hospital was

for the entire family as they all hoped things would turn out fine.

For friends and family, not being able to pay their loved ones a visit and be by their sides was the hardest part. Bryan, in his grief, shared that he hoped no other family would have to go through such tragedy and advised others to understand the importance of the vaccine.

Grissom also shared her hopes that others would take advantage of the opportunity should they get the chance. On January 8, Ron passed away after battling to hold on for so long. The next day, Ann sadly joined her sweetheart.

A similarly sad story occurred in Texas in mid-December, when Billy Loredo, an Edinburgh lawyer, passed away after fighting the novel coronavirus.

The most tear-jerking part of his story was that he penned a love letter to his wife of over twenty years, Sonya, as a goodbye letter. Loredo passed away on December 13 at the age of 45.

For families of people like the Wilkins and Loredo, such tragedies can be their worst nightmares, and they can only hope to heal with time.