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Songbirds's avatar
Songbirds
Explorer
Sep 17, 2021

Spouse left behind after death at a Campsite, what to do?

My wife and I were married back in 1974. We have one daughter who is now 48. I have been a long-time camper and had our share of outdoor toys, why before the toy haulers were popular and many other trailers I've seen roll off the assembly line. We were camping before our first family Ford VAN came along in 1975-Econoline VAN, by myself with shag carpet which was converted into a make-shift camper before that was even a thing, with crazy wild color carpet.

At some point, we jumped into trailers for room and comforts. Then came the day we got a Class A, motorhome and began to tour parts of the USA before I neared retirement. Which we switched into a longer and newer model as we were going on a full-time tour. But our lives were always pulled back by our jobs and the need others had for what was in our heads. ""haha""

Our daughter and her husband followed our tracks getting a Trailer toy-Haller. Some small boats and them ATV things. Without knowing came the words I had always heard from my wife. But this time from my daughter while on a camping trip. "Dad, she said" I don't know what I would do, if I lost Jon, and had to pack everything and hook up the trailer to head back home?

This was the first time I had even entertained the thought as I always felt it would just work itself all out, Okay. Or would it all be alright? Once, on an away trip in Class A, I had gotten very dizzy, sick, and broke into a cold sweat, as I had done almost 30-days apart for the prior year. A few trips to the Doctor and we learned my Gull Bladder had to go. So I was getting what my wide and daughter had been asking me about for years?. As we departed Utah and headed back home to Florida in our Class A, the very thought was what would the weakest minded person do to get it all back home in one peace? I had just turned 70-years old and the coming year came COVID-19 came 2020.

We sold our Class A, and we jumped into a Class B, Coachmen Galleria. As it has turned out has been great for restaurants visits and eating out with COVID in the air, while inside the VAN watching TV. Also driving our Van to some doctor visits and took in an RV Park to do our shake-down trip.

The wife and I have been together for over 50-years and were still in love and get along very well. I asked if the VAN would work? She said she could handle the VAN, but what if I dropped dead on the ground? Simple now my dear wife. Call the POLICE while I'm still on the ground and don't touch me just tell them it's not my "Gull Bladder" they will know what to do. Then call our lawyer to handle the details and drive back home. Or call our SON-in-Law and fly back home or wait and go back with JON or our daughter whatever. Also, we know she can handle the Van. But what about the VAN, give it to the KIDS, and tell Jon if he has a problem with the Beer give it to our fellow RV'ers wherever were parked.

So my fellow RV'ers, I posse this question to anyone who has an idea or has been asked by their spouse. You're out on your last campground outing and then your Facedown in the dirt, What would you suggest to others be done with you? And if alone who would know? This very thing did happen to a fellow RV'er while at and RV Park.

The Fire and Ambulance arrived at the RV Park, which got everyone's attention in the park. We learned the man had a heart attic and they took him away. She left with them and on her return. My wife took her a dish of potato salad. She, my wife was unable to talk with her and the RV Park gave them a Free Park visit. Some of us park fellow RV'ers guys, went over and rolled up and unhooked everything, and she towed the Vehicle all back home about 500-miles away. This all took a few days maybe just two days. It all happened kind of fast.

I Would like to know your thoughts? if something were to happen in front of you? I can see at 50-or even 80-years of age can be a big deal for the partner or family members to deal with the passing of another and having to deal with the details.

What would you do or think should be done, I would like to know. Let's please not know if it did but keep the post objective as to details would be helpful in just knowing. Thanks for sharing.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I wish I could offer help beyond what I will post here but that was one of my needless (As it turns out) Concerns as well.. What would happen if I died on the road... My wife was not trainable when it comes to most of the RV systems (I tried) However she ended up dying first.

    The best advice I can give is make sure both partners are able to do all that needs to be done. Dump/fill tanks. Hook up/unhook. Attach detach and drive.

    IF that is not possible.. There are some services.
    MASA (Medical Air Services or some such (not sure what the 2nd a is without lookingm Assoication perhaps) is the gold card I have. They will pack up and get the RV home (provide driver, Fuel, oil change if needed) also transport the mortal remains or the living disabled to funeral parlor/hospital (Whichever is more appropriate) near home.

    I understand that FMCA which now accepts Trailer owners as well, offers a competing service but I know not details.

    MASA, If you are alive but in need of an ambulance, also provides help getting TO the hospital if needed. be it air or ground transport they make sure you don't get dinged with a co-pay/overage
  • There are two major Medical Emergency groups: MASA and SkyMed. GoodSam offers a similar plan but don't think it any where close to either.
    Their moto is "We'll get you home". In the case of RVers they will hire a bonded transporter to get your rig home, and in the case of a death will make all the arrangements for transportation of the body.
    Neither are cheap, but gives you peace of mind if and when that event occurs.
  • A true story. Years ago (1983 ?) my wife and I were camping at a campground near Nashville Tennessee we noticed a very large (half-million dollar ?) motorhome for sale. We ask the campground host what was the story on this class A motorhome. He told us that the couple had recently retired from someplace up north, sold their home and bought this class A motorhome to travel full time for the rest of their life. The 1st trip was to Nashville. In Nashville the husband died of an unexpected heart attack. The widow was now face with a very expensive almost brand-new motorhome (that had depreciated considerable) that she could not drive in a town where she had no friends.

    I do not know how the story ended.
  • I have personal experience with this kind of situation from both sides of the fence: in the '70s, my late wife and I were camping in a National Park in Utah when I heard a commotion in the next campground circle. I went over and found an elderly woman (seemed very old to a 20-something at the time) wailing and yelling for help. Her husband was unresponsive on the floor of their Airstream. Being a registered nurse, I checked for a pulse and respirations (none present) and started CPR while the camp host radioed the park headquarters to get EMS on the way. It took EMS at least 20 minutes to get there. They took over CPR and I started an IV for them when they were unsuccessful twice. Long story short, the gentleman didn't survive. Rather quickly, other (more seasoned) campers rallied round and started organizing things to get the widow and her rig back home. Several of the ladies took the widow under their wings to provide emotional support while others were working out the logistics. It took a community.

    Fast forward 30+ years and my beautiful wife died suddenly and unexpectedly - though not on a camping trip. I can tell you that I was in no shape to make any decisions and probably not safe to drive. I was a wreck. Friends and family stepping up and getting me through those dark times are the reason I survived. I could not have gotten myself and an RV home... and I was only in my mid-50s at the time.

    I am remarried and, when my wife and I decided to go full-time, we joined FMCA for several reasons, chief among them is the FMCA Assist program. This is, basically, an insurance policy that provides medical evacuation/repatriation, emergency medical reunion, return of mortal remains, return of dependents, vehicle return, and several other benefits. This plan puts me much more at ease should anything happen to either one of us.

    Rob
  • MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
    Discussion and planning are key. A death while camping means a lot of work. The spouse would be most unlikely able to break camp and drive home.


    That's why we stay in campgrounds - I'm sure someone would be willing to lend my husband a hand ;-)

    I guess the best thing is to ask a lot of questions, should something dire happen? Like "Where can I park my RV that will be close to the hospital" or God forbid - "where's the nearest crematorium?" It's generally times like these when the good hearts of all the people who surround you, step into action. I have seen requests for help driving an RV posted on RV.net before, and have faith that if needed, people would step up or at least know where to seek help.
    Deb
  • If a spouse should die while camping, the survivor has bigger problems to deal with than packing up and getting the RV home!
  • Discussion and planning are key. A death while camping means a lot of work. The spouse would be most unlikely able to break camp and drive home.

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