Barbara Bush, former first lady, dies at 92

Former US first lady Barbara Bush has died aged 92.

Mrs Bush, mother of former president George W Bush and wife of George HW Bush, had said she wanted to spend her last days in "comfort care" with her family.

In a statement from the office of her husband, who is also a former US president, she was described as a "relentless proponent of family literacy".

Barbara Bush - in pictures

1/11

She had reportedly been battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart problems in recent years.

US politicians have paid tribute, including President Donald Trump and his predecessor Barack Obama.

George HW Bush kisses his wife Barbara during a pre-election rally in 1992
AP

Mr Trump, in a statement posted on the president's Twitter feed, said 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 praised Mrs Bush for "recognising 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.

Mr Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama said they were grateful for the generosity Mrs Bush showed to them while they were in the White House.

Former President George Bush hugs his wife, Barbara, after his address during the dedication of the George Bush Presidential Library in 1997
AP

The couple said in a statement: "We're even more grateful for the way she 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."

Known for her snow-white hair and for being fiercely protective of her family, Mrs Bush was dubbed "The Silver Fox" by her husband and children.

She was first lady when her husband was in the White House from 1989 to 1993.

Her son, Republican George Bush, triumphed in the disputed 2000 US election and was president from 2001 to 2009. The father-and-son presidents were sometimes referred to as "Bush 41" and "Bush 43."

The Bushes had celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary in January 2018.

Born in New York in 1925, Barbara Pierce married George HW Bush on 6 January 1945. They had six children, including the former president and ex-Florida governor Jeb Bush.

Mrs Bush is also survived by her sons Neil and Marvin and her daughter Doro Bush Koch. Her daughter Robin died at the age of three in 1953.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in