Evangelist Graham's Wife Near Death

Jun 14, 11:34 PM

Current Headlines: By Mike Baker

RALEIGH, N.C. - Ruth Graham, the ailing wife of evangelist Billy Graham, fell into a coma Wednesday morning and appears to be close to death, a family spokesman said.

"She appears to be entering the final stages of life," said Larry Ross, Graham's personal spokesman.

The news came the same day Billy Graham said he and Ruth will be buried at the recently dedicated Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. In a statement, Graham said his 86-year-old wife, who has degenerative osteoarthritis of the back and neck and has been bedridden at their home in the mountains of western North Carolina for some time, "is close to going home to heaven."

"Ruth is my soul mate and best friend, and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side," Graham said. "I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College."

The site of Graham's burial had appeared to be the source of some debate within his family. In December, The Washington Post reported that Ned Graham, the couple's youngest son, opposed burying his parents at the library. He and other members of the family said they preferred a site near Billy and Ruth Graham's home outside Asheville, in the town of Montreat.

The paper said evangelist Franklin Graham, who has taken over leadership of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wanted the graves to be at the Charlotte museum.

Graham, who is 88 and suffers from fluid on the brain, prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease, responded by saying the decision would be his and his wife's alone.

"Ruth and I appreciate, more than we can express, the prayers and letters of encouragement we have received from people across the country and around the world," he said Wednesday.

"Our entire family has been home in recent days and it has meant so much to have them at our side during this time. We love each one of them dearly and thank God for them."

Graham was in Charlotte last month for the opening of the $27 million, 40,000-square-foot museum and evangelistic library. He looked frail, was brought to the stage by golf cart and needed Franklin's help to reach his seat.

He told a crowd that included three former U.S. presidents - Clinton, Carter, and George H.W. Bush - that he was embarrassed by the attention and said there was "too much Billy Graham" in the exhibits.

"This building behind me is just a building," he said then. "It's an instrument, a tool for the Gospel. The primary thing is the Gospel of Christ."

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