One-half of world's longest marriage dies

BEIJING, July 23 (UPI) -- The female half of the longest marriage in the world died this week, family members said Wednesday.

Liu Yang-wan, 103, died Monday at her home in Taoyuan County, China, from natural causes, leaving behind her 104-year-old husband, the China News Agency said.

"She went peacefully and didn't suffer much," said Chen Ying-ru, their daughter-in-law.

The funeral is scheduled for Saturday.

Married in 1917, Liu Yang-wan and Liu Yung-yang were certified at a ceremony by the Guinness World of Records in November as the couple with the world's longest marriage -- 85 years and seven months.

Their marriage is two years longer than their nearest rivals, a couple in Kentucky who married 83 years ago.