Ruth Bell Graham, the soul mate of evangelist Billy Graham died on Thursday at age 87. 

"Ruth was my life partner," Billy Graham said in a statement which announced her death.   "We were called by God as a team. No one else could have borne the load that she carried."

She supported Graham as he traveled around the world spreading the gospel, counseling ten presidents, and became one of the most famous preachers and religious leaders ever.

Graham died while surrounded by her husband and all five children. 

While Billy Graham often became the soother, he also became the lightening rod.  His wife was his comforter even as she aged.

There is the famous story that Ruth Graham convinced her husband to not to run for US president in the 1960’s by threat of divorce.  Ruth Graham had subordinated her own career for that of her husband’s.  She once had aspirations of becoming a missionary in Tibet.

 In a journal, she wrote, "If I marry Bill, I marry him with my eyes open.  "He will be increasingly burdened for lost souls and increasingly active in the Lord's work I will slip into the background In short, be a lost life. Lost in Bill's."

Ruth Bell and Billy Graham met when they were students at Wheaton College.  He was already an ordained Baptist minister, 

On May 31, thousands came to pay tribute to Billy Graham at the dedication of his Charlotte Library, Ruth Graham who had been suffering was unable to attend. 

Billy told the crowd, "Ruth is my soul mate and best friend and I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side."