Husband holds up a homemade sign for his wife outside her nursing home on their anniversary

A doting husband has captured the hearts of thousands after a photo of him holding a sign for his wife outside her nursing home on their 67th wedding anniversary went viral. 

Bob Shellard, 90, was unable to visit his wife Nancy, 88, on their anniversary on March 14 because her assisted living facility in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, has banned visitors for 30 days to protect its residents amid the coronavirus pandemic.   

‘He was so proud of the sign,’ the couple’s daughter Laura Mikolajczak, 51, told Good Morning America. ‘He kept asking, “Do you think she’ll be able to read it?” He was thrilled.’

Aww! Bob Shellard, 90, was unable to visit his wife Nancy, 88, at her nursing home on their 67th anniversary because of coronavirus, so he stood outside her window with a sign 

Devoted husband: Bob, who was joined by his daughter Laura Mikolajczak, made a homemade sign for Nancy that said: 'I’ve loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary'

Devoted husband: Bob, who was joined by his daughter Laura Mikolajczak, made a homemade sign for Nancy that said: ‘I’ve loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary’

In the sweet snapshot, Bob is pictured standing outside Nancy’s nursing home with a homemade sign that reads: ‘I’ve loved you 67 years and still do. Happy Anniversary.’ 

Bob met Nancy when he visited the small dairy shop she worked at while waiting for the bus to take him to his job after World War II.

After 67 years of marriage, they have four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren with another one on the way.

Nancy moved into her nursing home in Stafford Springs in December after being diagnosed with dementia, and Bob visits her every day that he can.

‘I just miss her now that she’s in the nursing home,’ Bob told GMA. 

Eternal love: Nancy moved into her nursing home in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, in December after being diagnosed with dementia, and Bob visits her every day that he can

Eternal love: Nancy moved into her nursing home in Stafford Springs, Connecticut, in December after being diagnosed with dementia, and Bob visits her every day that he can

Look of love: Brittany Thorne, director of Social Services at the nursing home, said Nancy got a big smile on her face and started waving and blowing kisses when she saw her husband

Look of love: Brittany Thorne, director of Social Services at the nursing home, said Nancy got a big smile on her face and started waving and blowing kisses when she saw her husband

To make the separation all the more heartbreaking, most nursing homes and care centers across the country have restricted visitation and gone on lockdown to protect those who are most vulnerable to the coronavirus (COVID-19). 

According to a data analysis released on Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 per cent of deaths associated with the coronavirus in the U.S. were in adults aged 65 and older. 

When Nancy’s care home announced on March 9 that it would stop accepting visitors per Governor Ned Lamont’s orders, Laura was tasked with calling her father and telling him he wouldn’t be able to see his wife on their anniversary.

Laura said she suggested standing outside with balloons so her mom could see them, but Bob took the idea one step further by making her a heartfelt sign. 

On the day of their anniversary, she drove her dad to the nursing home and staffers brought Nancy to the window so she could see what he had done for her. 

Capturing hearts: The image of Bob holding his sign has received more than 263,000 likes on Twitter, and many commenters said they were touched by the romantic gesture

Capturing hearts: The image of Bob holding his sign has received more than 263,000 likes on Twitter, and many commenters said they were touched by the romantic gesture 

Brittany Thorne, director of Social Services at the nursing home, told GMA that Nancy got a big smile on her face and started waving and blowing kisses when she saw her husband.  

‘They have always been an inspiration to us,’ Laura told WNBC in New York. ‘There’s just a sweetness to the two of them and what they share.’

The image of Bob holding his sign has received more than 263,000 likes and been shared 58,000 times on Twitter. 

‘How beautiful,’ one person commented. ‘God please bring them together again soon.’ 

‘Excuse me while I SOB,’ someone else wrote. 

‘Omg, this broke my heart,’ another added. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk