A veteran with dementia who was reunited with his wife after she saw him on TV in a homeless shelter has died.
Michael Black, 91, was found by his wife Avril Black, 77, on November 27, two days after he ran away from their home in Afton, Wyoming.
His 47-year-old wife reported him missing on November 25. Tipsters helped police map Michael’s journey through southern Idaho and northern Utah – before they quickly hit a dead end.
But by nothing short of a miracle, Avril saw her missing husband — who was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago — in a KSL News segment that featured footage from inside the Salt Lake Rescue Mission.
Now, in a devastating turn of events, a week after coming home to the love of his life, Michael fell ill with the flu and died on Thursday.
When the couple returned from the hospital, Michael walked into their home where he “collapsed,” a spokesperson said GoFundMe page.
“He had problems with his heart and kidneys,” his loving wife said, adding “his body was tired, very tired,” Avril said. KSL News.
Michael and his wife Avril Black, 77, were married for 47 years. He was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago
Michael, 91, who left his home in Afton, Wyoming on November 25 and was found by his wife two days later while watching the news, sadly passed away on Thursday
The widow recalled the conversation between her and Michael on the way home just before he died, as they repeatedly said how much they loved each other.
‘We told each other we loved each other all the way home. We experienced all the wonderful times we had together.
“I said, ‘You’re going to fight this, aren’t you?’ and he said, “Yes, I will fight it,” she recalled.
The couple held hands at the time, but Avril had no idea it would be the last time she did so.
“And I said to him, ‘You know, if you’re going to pass it on, you better send me the lottery numbers!’ That’s our British sense of humor, you know,” Avril said as she laughed.
Despite losing her partner right after reconnecting with him, Avril said “maybe he’s in a better place.”
“It was his time, and he had an adventure, and he enjoyed his little adventure. That’s life, I guess,” she continued.
Michael ended up 200 miles from his home in Wyoming at this Salt Lake City shelter called Rescue Mission before being picked up by police and returned to Avril.
While at the shelter, Michael befriended Jay Rouse, the chapel’s leader, who told the outlet he was told a Good Samaritan had picked up the older man at the bus station on Nov. 26.
“It was about 8:30 to 9 p.m [local time] Normally we’d be closed, but I said, ‘Bring him over,'” Rouse recalled.
“It turned out he was 91 years old, a Korean War veteran. He was a really sweet guy. “I realized this sweet old man needed help,” he added.
When Avril turned to the news channel that evening, she saw her white-haired husband, dressed in a black coat, eating, among dozens of others staying at the shelter.
“So I paused the TV, put it back on, and sure enough, there it was,” she recalled.
‘It was so surreal. I was so relieved. I actually slept that night.”
Police then confirmed Michael’s identity and she drove all the way to Salt Lake City to pick him up.
‘I’m speechless. I’m just surprised it happened. Boy, does he have a guardian angel looking after him,” Avril said, adding that if the station hadn’t shown her lost husband, he might have “fallen in a ditch somewhere.”
“And you guys, thank God you were there,” she continued, referring to the Afton Police Department and the Salt Lake Rescue Mission team.
“The police have been great to us. And the shelter, they gave him warm clothes and a blanket and really took care of him.”
Avril and Michael shared a love of dogs and both participated in dog shows, especially with Russell Terriers, the donation page says.
The couple recently welcomed a new puppy into their family named Vivian, who will now “help Avril heal from this grief.”
‘Michael was a very happy man and always had a story to tell. He was a gentleman and old-fashioned. He loved God, his wife and family! He also loved delicious food, especially his wife’s food! (She’s a great cook),” wrote Tanya Holiday, the page’s organizer.
Holiday has asked the public to help with the costs of Michael’s medical bills and his funeral, adding that on top of the pain of losing her husband, Avril will not be able to cover all the fees.
On Wednesday evening, $950 was raised for the widow.