Wife of US evangelist Billy Graham in coma

MIAMI, June 13 (Reuters) Ruth Graham, the wife of US evangelist Billy Graham, slipped into a coma today, a spokeswoman for the popular preacher said.

She was at home in Montreat, North Carolina, and was surrounded by family, spokeswoman Melany Ethridge said.

''She's been in frail health for a while ... This morning she went into a coma,'' Ethridge said. ''She's got a great fighting spirit and we don't know how long she will be with us.'' Billy Graham credited his wife, who turned 87 on Sunday, with anchoring their family while he preached around the world.

In a statement issued today, he announced that the two had decided to be buried beside each other at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, his hometown.

''We have held this decision privately and only decided to announce it now that she is close to going home to Heaven,'' the statement said.

Graham, 88, described his wife as his ''soul mate and best friend.'' ''I cannot imagine living a single day without her by my side. I am more in love with her today than when we first met over 65 years ago as students at Wheaton College.'' The daughter of a missionary surgeon, Ruth McCue Bell spent most of the first 17 years of her life in China.

It was an unusual upbringing for an American of her generation, but combined with the missionary zeal of her parents was good preparation for her future role as the ''first lady'' of American evangelism.

Reuters AKD VP0138