Former US first lady Barbara Bush died has died aged 92 according to a statement issued by her family.
Only the second woman ever to see both her husband and son sworn in as US president, the Bush family revealed she passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a long illness.
The family had said on Sunday that her health was failing as she would seek no further medical treatment for congestive heart failure.
Mrs Bush, the wife of President George HW Bush and the mother of George W Bush was being cared for at her home in Houston, Texas.
Hailed by many as the most popular First Lady to preside at the White House, Mrs. Bush’s plainspoken manner and utter lack of pretense made her more popular at times than her husband.
President Donald Trump was one of the first to pay tribute to Mrs Bush, who is widely regarded to have been the rock at the centre of one of America’s most prominent political families.
Mr Trump hailed her as an “advocate of the American family.”
“Amongst her greatest achievements was recognising the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires nurturing and protection,” he said.
“She will be long remembered for her strong devotion to country and family, both of which she served unfailingly well.”
.@FLOTUS Melania and I join the Nation in celebrating the life of Barbara Bush: pic.twitter.com/4NzyjxqAFM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018
Her son Jeb wrote: “I’m exceptionally privileged to be the son of George Bush and the exceptionally gracious, gregarious, fun, funny, loving, tough, smart, graceful woman who was the force of nature known as Barbara Bush.”
And his son George P. Bush tweeted: “I will miss you, Ganny-but know we will see you again.”
Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle paid tribute to the way Mrs Bush lived her life, “as a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling. As an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit.”
After first meeting when she was just 16, she wed George H.W. Bush in 1945 and the pair were married for 73 years – longer than any presidential couple in American history.
Together, they had six children including former US President George W. Bush, and former Florida governor and onetime presidential aspirant, Jeb Bush.
As first lady, from 1989 to 1993, she embraced the cause of universal literacy, and founded a foundation for family literacy.
