A dementia-hit husband who went missing from his home has been found dead just two days after his wife of more than 60 years passed away following a brain cancer battle.
David McLeod, 78, from Galashiels, Scottish Borders, went missing on Thursday, December 16, and his body was found on Sunday.
His wife Sandra, 79, died after a long battle with brain cancer at 12.55am on Friday, December 17, just hours after her husband disappeared.
The pair, who had three children, 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, were known to say ‘if one died first the other would meet them on the way’.
Retired construction worker David, who was diagnosed with dementia in August, went out to buy a newspaper around 8pm but never returned home.
His body was found on Sunday, December 19, about a three-mile walk from his home in the countryside around Cauldshiels Loch.
Their devastated family said David’s watch, returned to the them by the police, had stopped at 12.55am, the exact time his wife died.
The couple’s heartbroken family said it looked like they had died around the same time
A statement from the family said: ‘The McLeod family far and wide would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for sharing our dad’s and grandad’s information and photo.
Also a huge thank you to the public and all professional services who were keeping an eye out for grandad.
It looks like he died around about the same time as ‘the wife’ as he called her on the first night missing.
‘Dave and Sandra will be sorely missed by all family and friends.
‘As anyone who knew them knew they loved nothing more than to have a house full of family around them.
‘They were together through life for 63 years and will now continue their journey together in death.
‘They used to say if one died first the other would meet them on the way.
‘Sandra, Mary, David, Kelly, Marion and the rest of the family.’
