A DEVOTED Dunfermline couple died within hours of each other at the weekend, it emerged yesterday, write Lars Niven and Aileen Robertson.

Sandy and Ness Donaldson passed away on Sunday, to the shock of family, friends and neighbours, who knew them as a loving couple.

Mr Donaldson (74) collapsed at home on Friday after spending time at a bowling club.

He was taken in to Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, but transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Doctors discovered he had a damaged aorta, but were hopeful they would be able to perform a heart bypass.

However, he suffered kidney failure, which meant they were unable to operate on him and he died on Sunday morning.

Mrs Donaldson (73), who had been suffering from cancer, was at home when she learned of her husband’s death and about 10 hours later, she, too, died.

The couple’s son Alex told The Courier yesterday, “The family was all together just the week before and they had a fantastic Christmas Day, which dad enthused about.

“Dad had a very nice afternoon on the Friday, but took a turn and collapsed.

“He went up to the hospital and in to the high dependency unit.

“He seemed okay and was in fine spirits, but the next morning he was blue-lighted across to the royal in Edinburgh in an ambulance.

“Things just got more and more complex medically, but we left him on Saturday night just thinking we were waiting for the window so they could get his bypass done.”

Hospital staff called the family the next morning to say they should prepare for the worst.

Before they could reach the hospital Mr Donaldson passed away.

His wife, who was battling cancer and had resisted being admitted to hospital, was too weak to visit him.

She was urged by her family to go into hospital and she finally agreed, dying hours later.

The couple were both born into farming communities, Mr Donaldson at Ardoch of Gallery near Logie Pert in Angus and Mrs Donaldson at Nether Benholm in Kincardineshire.

They were educated at St Cyrus and Craigo primary schools respectively.

He went on to work as a labourer on smallholdings near his home, while Mrs Donaldson took jobs in the Montrose area as a waitress and a maid.

They met at a social function and were married in 1955, moving to north-east Fife shortly afterwards.

Mr Donaldson worked as a driver with Williamson’s bus company in Gauldry, but the couple moved to Dunfermline and he joined Kirkcaldy-based Alexanders bus company.

He eventually ended up working as a foreman groundsman at the South of Scotland Electricity Board, where he worked around 20 years before retiring.

The couple had three children, May, Linda and Alex, and after they reached school age Mrs Donaldson went back to work.

She was a much-loved dinner lady at Pitreavie Primary, where she worked until she retired.

Mr Donaldson was a keen bowler at Headwell and West End bowling clubs in Dunfermline.

Ian Lawrie, who played in the same team as Mr Donaldson at Headwell, was his friend of over 40 years.

He said, “He was affectionately known in bowling circles as Big Sandy.

“He was a very good bowler and a very nice person, a really genuine chap.

“He was a good winner and a good loser too. He’ll be sadly missed.”

He said the deaths were “unbelievable” and club members are “devastated.”

He said, “His wife had been bothered with her heart and also had cancer.

“I think the shock was too much for her.”

Mr Lawrie and Mr Donaldson met playing darts at the Central Bar in Inverkeithing.

As darts partners they made a successful team and went on to play in national tournaments.

Mr and Mrs Donaldson are survived by their children.

They had eight grandchildren, Scott, Emma, Tracy, Susan, Beth, Kirsty, Bryce and Ruth, who died just nine months old.