Husband, wife among those killed in devastating EF4 tornado: ‘They went together’

LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT/Gray News) – A husband and wife are among the 19 victims who died in an EF4 tornado last Friday in Kentucky.

Richard and Wanda McFall lived in the Sunshine Hills community and died when the tornado tore through their home on May 16.

Their son, Stephen England, said losing both his parents at once is something no child could ever be prepared for.

“The beauty and the tragedy of it is that they went together,” England said. “They were not alone, and if any good out of it could come potentially from this tragedy, it’s that.”

England describes his parents as amazing people who worked with the nonprofit organization Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

“They were the epitome of the type of people that would give you the shirt off their back,” England said. “They were part of the DAV and really were able to help out not only disabled veterans but anybody that was in need.”

England said something else that he and his siblings will forever cherish about their mom and dad is that their love for each other remained strong, even until the very end.

“The example of what it is to love someone unconditionally, and to walk through daily life, together, no matter the outcome. To know that that example is being set for not only their children, who are grown, but also their grandchildren to see, that is probably the best legacy I think anyone could ever ask for,” England said.

He urges everyone to never take their parents for granted.

“There’s something about a mother and a father’s hug, that when it’s gone… tell your family every day that you love them. Because you don’t know if there’s gonna be another day you’re gonna be able to,” he said.

The family has a GoFundMe set up to help with any expenses they have regarding this tragedy.

“Looking at photos of the subdivision where they lived, you can’t even find more than debris where their house once stood. It’s hard to believe the devastation that happened,” the page reads.

The National Weather Service has confirmed that the tornado was a powerful EF-4 and devastated multiple communities and killing 19 people.

According to officials, the tornado reached peak winds of 170 miles per hour. At its widest point, it was nearly a mile wide, and it stayed on the ground for approximately 56 miles.

The NWS says the EF-4 tornado’s path of damage spanned Russell, Pulaski and Laurel counties, starting in Somerset and ending in London.

It was only the sixth EF4 or EF5 tornado in Kentucky in the past 50 years.

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