A couple from Illinois who eloped in 1942 and were married for over seven decades have died within hours of each other.

Robert and Nora Viands died in the hospital room that they shared on the same day, according to the Daily Mail. Robert passed away first while Nora followed him 16 hours later.

Robert had been suffering from Parkinson's disease while his wife had been checked into the hospital for pneumonia in December of last year.

Family members claimed the pair, who had five children together, were inseparable during their marriage.

'They were really never apart,' said one of their daughters, Barb Milton. 'They would hold hands in the dining room.'

The couple met on a blind date but apparently Nora wasn’t too keen on Robert and swore at the end of their first date that she would never see him again.

Robert persisted and they went on a second date. Before World War II, the pair eloped as Nora was just 17 and could not marry in Illinois.

After Robert returned from the war, the couple had two more marriage ceremonies. They marked their 71^st wedding anniversary in June.

Last week, a couple who had been married for 65 years passed away on the same day within eleven hours of each other.