A Valley veteran and Phoenix native has lost his battle with COVID-19, devastating his family just days before Christmas.
Henry Victory, 71, grew up in Phoenix, and attended Tempe High School, passed away on Thursday, December 17 due to coronavirus.
"He was my very best friend. My true soulmate, and that’s for sure," said Elaine Victory, his wife. "We were going to renew our vows next year, but this damn corona took my husband."
Victory was known as a family man. He is survived by 11 children and stepchildren, 32 grandchildren and four grandchildren.
Victory and his wife were too poor at the time when they got married to buy wedding rings since they had recently adopted Victory's grandson.
This year for Christmas, Victory was planning on buying himself and his wife wedding rings.
He was an Army veteran, who served in Vietnam. His wife was disabled, and Victory was her only caregiver.
On December 2, Victory woke up with trouble breathing, and was taken to the hospital. Before dinner, he was in the ICU.
"He complained of shortness of breath. That’s when he was taken into the hospital and admitted to the ICU and put in a medically induced coma on the ventilator," said Misty Hernandez, Victory's daughter-in-law. "5 a.m. to 2 p.m, like that quick."
Victory never woke up.
"We didn’t think it would happen," said Hernandez. "He was a strong man. He was a very strong man. My mother-in-law said he treated her like a queen that is an understatement. It’s unimaginable."
His family has set up a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs.