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The Last Years
By early 1966, John's health was failing faster, and then on August 4, 1967, he suffered a stroke. With therapy, John slowly regained his ability to be able to speak and to read. Though still disabled, after several months he was able to be more active. He and Ruth could again get back to some gardening and running errands together.
In December, 1969, John suffered a second stroke from which he did not recover. While John was in the hospital in a coma for several days, Ruth had a cot brought in to his bedside, where she stayed and slept night after night. John died with Ruth at his side on December 19, 1969. John and Ruth Van Bergen were only separable by death.
Soon after John died, Ruth sold the house on Bella Vista and moved into an apartment. Though she desperately missed John, she enjoyed another few years of good health, did some traveling and saw her grandchildren grow up. Ruth Van Bergen died in 1981 at the age of 85.
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