Lady Melinda Rose Woodward - known as Linda - who was married to the music star Tom Jones for 59 years, died on Sunday morning at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. "Surrounded by her husband and loved ones, she passed away peacefully," a statement on 75-year-old Sir Tom's website said.
Tom Jones married Linda Trenchard in 1957 at age 17, and together they had a son, Mark, born the same year.
In 1974 Jones moved his family to the United States due to resentment of Britain's high taxes. He bought Dean Martin's house in California's posh Bel-Air area.
Though he remained married to Trenchard, Jones was well known for his infidelities. During his career heyday he admitted to sleeping with more than 250 groupies a year. In 1987, he fathered a son through a four-day fling with model Katherine Berkery. Though for over 20 years Jones denied paternity, a DNA test in 2008 proved he was the boy's father.
They had wanted more children, but the singer revealed in his 2015 autobiography, Over The Top And Back, that a miscarriage had left his wife infertile. Over the years, Lady Woodward had to face allegations of Sir Tom's numerous affairs and he said she once hit him: "And I took it because I knew I was wrong."
She also became reclusive in later years, rarely leaving their Beverly Hills home, where he said she battled emphysema and had depression. However, Sir Tom said she remained the most important person in his life.
"We love one another," he told the BBC."I think love conquers all and it's the truth. And a sense of humour... because we grew up together, we're both Welsh. You know, growing up in south Wales, there's a certain sense of humour there."
Charlotte knew that his wife was the love of your life': The mistress who had a three-year affair with Sir Tom Jones sends a message of condolence to singer after the death of his wife Linda. Charlotte Laws, now 55, says she had a three-year affair with the singer. She lost her virginity to the superstar in 1979 when she was 18. Sir Tom's wife Linda died on Sunday after 'short but fierce' cancer battle.
Sir Tom Jones' former mistress speaks out following his wife's death https://t.co/UTTsoATKnB pic.twitter.com/W2StmhPotm
— Mirror Celeb (@MirrorCeleb) April 12, 2016
For his musical accomplishments, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on Jones the honor of Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1995 and knighted him as part of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in 2005. Other highlights included a performance for U.S. President Bill Clinton at the White House Millennium Celebration and for Britain’s monarchy for the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. Jones also won the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Marjorie Wallace was stripped of her Miss World crown, and when Sir Tom realized Linda was going to learn about the infidelity, he told the beauty queen it was over.
Devastated, Marjorie took an overdose of sleeping pills and ended up in a coma but survived.
Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday celebration on April 21 will be one of the highlights of 2016. Knight-A man holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country. She can make it more memorable by removing the crown from the head of Tom Jones. What a joke!
Paul Murphy
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
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