Tearful George H.W. Bush’s son reads love letter in moving eulogy for Barbara

George H.W. Bush appeared to break down in tears as his son Jeb read out a love letter he sent his late wife Barbara Bush, in a moving and emotional eulogy at her funeral.

The former US president was joined by his family as well as thousands of mourners including Melania Trump, the Clintons and the Obamas as he said a final farewell to his beloved wife.

The congregation gathered at St Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas, on Saturday as Jeb remembered his mother as a “role model” to their family, sharing fun anecdotes from their private lives together. He said she “filled our lives with laughter and joy” and paid particular attention to her incredible bond to his father, George.

While he was the only one of Barbara’s children to speak, he was joined by the wife of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, Susan Baker, as well as George H.W. Bush biographer Jon Meacham – who told the church that George was the “only boy” she had ever kissed.

Mrs Bush’s granddaughter Elizabeth Andrews also spoke, and she was followed by grandchildren Noelle Lucila Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, Marshall Lloyd Bush Rossi, Nancy LeBlond Sosa, Ashley Walker Bush and Georgia Grace Koch, the Mail Online reports.

Read more: Barbara Bush dies age 92 after health battle

However it was Jeb’s incredible insight into their marriage that triggered a very emotional reaction from the former leader, who was comforted by his daughter Dorothy on the front row.

Managing to make the congregation laugh and cry, Jeb began his eulogy – which was recorded by CNN – by saying: “As I stand here today to share a few words about my mom, I feel her looming presence behind me.

“And I know exactly what she’s thinking right now.’Jeb, keep it short. Don’t’ drag this out. People have already heard enough remarks already and most of all, don’t get weepy. Remember, I’ve spent decades laughing and living a life with these people’!”

He went on to thank everyone from their loved ones, to the caregivers who helped Barbara in her final days – adding that she had taught them to show gratitude: “You see our mom was our first and most important teacher.”

Reminiscing on her “tough love”, Jeb fondly described it as a “benevolent dictatorship”, and added: “Mom could strike fear into her grandchildren, nephews, nieces and her children, if someone didn’t behave.” However, he insisted: “Every grandchild knew their Ganny loved them.”

He then paid tribute to his father’s “love story” with his mother, and explained he would write her a love letter on their wedding anniversary. He brought one from 1994 to the service to read out.

It read: “Will you marry me? Oops, I forgot we did that 49 years ago. I was very happy on that day in 1945 but I am even happier today.

“You have given me joy that few men know. You have made our boys into men by balling them out and then, right away, by loving them. You’ve helped Doro be the sweetest, greatest daughter in the whole wide world.

“I have climbed perhaps the highest mountain in the world but even that cannot hold a candle to being Barbara’s husband.

“Mom used to tell me, “Now, George, don’t walk ahead.” Little did she know I was only trying to keep up, keep up with Barbara Pierce from Rye, New York.  I love you.”

Read more: Moving image of George H. W. Bush keeping vigil for beloved late wife

He finally told a story about how his father was hospitalised more recently, just a day after Barbara, and he says the whole family believe he did it on purpose so he could be there for her.

Once there, he claims George’s hair was “on end” and he “looked like hell”, but when his mother opened her eyes, she reduced the nurses to tears by saying: “My God George, you are devastatingly handsome!”

While Melania attended the service, Donald Trump chose not to out of respect for the family – which is not uncommon for a leader of that time to do.

Meanwhile, George – who was married to Barbara for 73 years – made sure he stayed by late wife’s side to the very end, as a moving photo just hours ago revealed him sitting by her coffin before the ceremony.

She was buried on Saturday in the grounds of the Bush library at Texas A&M University, alongside the couple’s three-year-old daughter Robin, who died in 1953 of leukaemia. 

Mrs Bush died on Tuesday night in the US at the age of 92, having just days earlier declined further treatment for her medical conditions.

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