Richard and Vera Jones with their daughter Pippa

A “devoted” Shropshire couple died within days of each other because they could not bear to live without each other.

World War Two veteran Richard Robert Somme Jones, 90, died of cancer on May 24 this year, and his wife Vera died of heart failure yesterday at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Today their 44-year-old daughter Pip Jones, from Knockin Heath, paid tribute to her parents.

The couple, who lived in Copthorne, Shrewsbury, met while they were teachers working at Harlescott Grange Junior School and were married in 1960.

Mr Jones started as a primary school teacher in Shrewsbury in 1947 but later moved on to become a history teacher in senior schools and taught at three Harlescott schools until he retired in 1976.

Miss Jones said: “They both really enjoyed teaching. My dad was head of humanities when he retired. One of their main hobbies together was gardening.”

In 2007, Mr Jones was made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to the Shropshire branch of the Burma Star Association. He was secretary for many years.

Miss Jones said: “He did practically everything for them. He organised visits to the arboretum, their Christmas dos, sending cards and money to all the widows and visiting people in hospital and attending funerals.

“My mum supported my dad and did a lot of the paperwork.

“They were well known in the community. My dad did a lot that perhaps people may not appreciate as he was not one of those who shouted about it.”

Mr Jones was also a member of the Royal British Legion.

Miss Jones said: “He was wonderful. He was a very selfless man and put everybody before himself and was very kind.

“He loved fun and laughter and used to get up to all sorts of tricks.

“My mum was lovely. She was very good and very supportive.”

Miss Jones said her parents had a very happy marriage and were devoted to each other.

“It was what they wanted to go together and I know if anything had happened to my mum first, my dad would not have survived,” she said.

A joint funeral will be held at Shrewsbury Cemetery on Friday at 2pm.

By Rebecca Lawrence