Sir Tom Jones’ Wife Of 59 Years, Lady Melinda Rose Woodward, Dies After ‘Short But Fierce’ Battle With Cancer

Lady Melinda Rose Woodward — better known as Linda — long time wife of singer Sir Tom Jones, has died at the age of 75 after a “short but fierce” battle with cancer.

According to a brief statement released on Tom Jones’ website, his wife passed away on Sunday, April 10, at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, surrounded by her loved ones.

“Sir Tom Jones’ wife of 59 years, Lady Melinda Rose Woodward, passed away Sunday morning, April 10, after a short but fierce battle with cancer. Surrounded by her husband and loved ones, she passed away peacefully at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.”

Another news update on his website posted on April 3 stated that Jones had “regretfully had to cancel” a string upcoming tour dates in Thailand, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, and the UAE due to a serious illness within his immediate family. It is now believed that that “serious illness” was the aggressive cancer his wife had been battling back home in California, though at the time, Jones’ management denied it was his wife that was sick, according to International Business Times.

Sir Tom Jones' wife of 59 years, Melinda Rose Woodward, dies after cancer battle https://t.co/5ikDjBtDI4 pic.twitter.com/nQslBclzey

— People (@people) April 11, 2016

Tom Jones and Melinda had been married 59 years this year, having met in school when the two were 12-years-old. In his autobiography, Over the Top and Back, Jones described the first time he saw Melinda in the schoolyard in their home town of Trefost, Pontypridd, Wales, writing that he fell for her almost immediately.

“I’ve never had the feeling that I have with my wife Linda with anyone else. When I met her I wanted to hold her for as long and often as possible. I don’t think you do find that more than once. Our marriage has lasted because we have the same childhood memories and Welsh sense of humour, which is slightly sarcastic – no bullsh*t.”

The two began dating when they were 15-years-old, and married a year later in 1957, when Linda became pregnant with their only child, Mark. Though Jones’ and his wife had been married nearly six decades, it wasn’t necessarily always the perfect marriage, mainly because of Jones’ numerous affairs, reports the Guardian. At the height of his fame, according to the news outlet, Jones claimed to have bedded 250 groupies in a single year, and his affairs with Mary Wilson of the Supremes, and former Miss World Marjorie Wallace are well known. In a 2015 interview, Tom Jones admitted that his affair with Wallace had led to Linda beating him up at one point.

“I stood there and took it. She chinned me. She punched and shouted.”

Despite his infidelity, Jones said his marriage to Linda was “rock solid,” calling his affairs nothing but “fun and games.”

“She’s the most important thing in my life. An unbelievable woman. Linda is the love of my life and she still is, even though she doesn’t look like she did. I don’t look like I did, either, but I try my best.”

Jones’ autobiography also revealed that his wife had had two previous cancer scares before the one that ultimately claimed her life, and that Linda was a heavy smoker. Woodward had also battled depression since a young age, and had, in recent years, become slightly agoraphobic, choosing often to stay inside their California home, rather than venture outside. Linda didn’t even accompany Tom in 2006 when he received his knighthood.

RIP Lady Linda, wife of Sir Tom Jones pic.twitter.com/mRXOzwZTjq

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) April 11, 2016

Jones, who has been through many ups and downs in his life and career, according to a family friend in Wales, has previously said that he would not be able to carry on singing if his wife were to die. The family friend echoed the sentiment, “[s]he was the rock of his life and he will be lost without her.”

Tom Jones and his 59-year-old son, Mark, have asked for the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time as they mourn the passing of their beloved wife and mother, Lady Melinda Rose Woodward.

[Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images]