A PROUD family have paid tribute to their fighter grandad who survived the Second World War and then beat Covid-19.

Heroic Ernie Keeble was renowned for his bravery and was often quizzed about his time fighting in the army by his adored grandchildren.

No matter the distance, Ernie - who served in countries including Italy and North Africa - would send love letters to his childhood sweetheart Joan, 96.

The couple married in a hurry before Ernie went off to war - celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary in December.

Inseparable, they lived in Pitsea most of their lives, before becoming residents at Woodbury Court, in Basildon.

But after suffering with head injuries from a fall, Mr Keeble passed on February 17 aged 97.

Ernie even beat Covid in the run up to Christmas.

Grandaughter, Leonie Gray, 34, said: “Nan and grandad have always been childhood sweethearts, they were around 14 when they met. 

“Nan is holding up as best she can, but she has just lost the love of her life.We got to the home seconds after my grandad had passed, and so we went straight to her. 

“It is such a sad time for the family, but especially her. They’re so used to being together. 

“Nan is still at Woodbury Court, but the team have been amazing looking after her.”

After his fall, Mr Keeble suffered bruising on the brain. He was then put on end of life care.

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Leonie added: “Grandad was such a trooper. He actually seemed okay at first, he was even munching away on pancakes on pancake day.

“But he deteriorated very quickly, it is heartbreaking. 

“He was in the war, and even had Covid before Christmas - but the virus didn’t phase him at all.”

Ernie, who had 43 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren overall, has been branded as nothing but a family man by his loved ones.

He and Joan tied the knot at the now-demolished St Michael’s Church, in Pitsea, on December 16, 1940.

Leonie, from Canvey, continued: “He was absolutely devoted to all his family, they were his life. I used to take my kids to see them every week.

"My sister Siobhan also has a little boy, and we’d always be together in the summer and the holidays doing picnics and that sort of thing. 

“When I had my children nan and grandad’s was the first house I took them to. And my little boy would always ask him about the army and the Second World War. He was more than a grandad to us, more like a father figure.”