Mrs Joan Thumwood died on March 8, aged 80, and her husband, Mr John E Thumwood, died on March 13, aged 79.

Mr and Mrs Thumwood, of West Drive, Great Sankey, lived in Great Sankey for 44 years.

Mr Thumwood was born in Shamley Green, Surrey, and his wife was born in Kensington, Liverpool. They met and married in the RAF during the Second World War.

Mr Thumwood was employed as a mechanical engineer, working for several companies in Warrington and Liverpool, eventually retiring from Warrington Tractors, where he was service manager. His wife worked in the offices of several local companies before retiring from British Waterways at Weston Point Docks, where she was a workshop clerk.

During the Second World War Mr Thumwood served as a Flight Mechanic in the RAF, then joined the Fleet Air Arm. Mrs Thumwood was firstly with the Aircraft Inspection Directorate as an inspector in the manufacture of Halifax bombers, then joined the WAAF as a Flight Mechanic on Spitfire aircraft.

The couple enjoyed gardening and caravanning in Scotland and Wales. Mrs Thumwood enjoyed reading and doing crosswords, and her husband enjoyed beer-making, wine-making and growing his own vegetables.

They leave three daughters, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.

A service was held on March 19 at Walton Lea, followed by cremation. The Rev Ron Percival officiated.

Donations were sent to Cancer Research and the PDSA.

Arrangements were made by Knox & Son.