HOUSTON (AP) – Former first lady Barbara Bush has died. She was 92.
A family spokesman says she died Tuesday.
The snowy-haired Mrs. Bush was one of only two first ladies who was also the mother of a president. The other was Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams and mother of John Quincy Adams.
Mrs. Bush’s plainspoken manner and utter lack of pretense made her more popular at times than her husband. She brought a grandmotherly style to buttoned-down Washington, often appearing in her trademark fake pearl chokers and displaying no vanity about her white hair and wrinkles.
She married George H.W. Bush in 1945. They had six children and were married longer than any presidential couple in American history.
President George W. Bush released a statement on the passing of his mother:
President Donald Trump and the first lady are paying tribute to Barbara Bush after her death Tuesday.
The White House says in a statement posted on the president’s Twitter feed that the Trumps “join the nation in celebrating Barbara Bush.”
The statement hails the former first lady as “an advocate of the American family” and says she “will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well.”
The Trumps are also praising Mrs. Bush for “recognizing the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires nurturing and protection.”
In a separate statement, Melania Trump is offering her “heartfelt condolences and prayers” to the Bush family.
The public will be able to pay their respects Friday from noon until midnight at Saint Martin’s Church on Sage road in Houston. The funeral will be Saturday and is invitation only. Around 1500 are expected to attend including former presidents and first ladies.. The burial ceremony will be private.
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