Lori and George Schappell, 62-year-old twins who lived in Reading, PA, have died

The world’s oldest living twins, Lori and George Shappell, 62, who were longtime Reading residents and led distinctively individual lives while supporting each other, have died.

“When we were born, doctors didn’t think we’d live to be 30, but we proved them wrong,” Lori said in an interview.

Leibensperger Funeral Homes in Berks County posted a tribute to both this week, saying they died April 7 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. The cause of his death was not disclosed.

They were born twin girls in West Reading, but in 2007 George came out as a transgender man.

George said in an interview with a British newspaper, “I knew since childhood that I should have been a boy.”

“It was very hard, but I was getting older and I didn’t want to live a lie. I knew I had to live my life the way I wanted,” George said.

“Obviously it was a shock,” Lori said, “…but I’m very proud of her.”

Lori said: “It was a huge decision, but we have achieved a lot in our lives and together we are a strong team. No one can break it.”

Over the years, he has appeared on TV talk shows as well as an episode of the popular FX medical drama nip Tuck, And he was the subject of several newspaper feature stories.

George performed as a country music singer and was quite successful performing shows throughout the United States, Europe and Japan. Lori was once engaged, but her fiancé died in an automobile accident.

“When I went on dates,” Lori said, “George would bring along books to read.”

Finding different ways to express themselves, they developed daily life routines to care for and respect each other. They took turns spending time in different bedrooms to give each other their own personal space. He explained in a 1997 documentary that his bathing schedules varied, so he would take one bath at a time.

In the documentary George said, “If you love the person you’re with and you respect them, you’ll give them the privacy and compromise in situations that you want them to give you.”

“That’s the whole point, compromise. And that you don’t get everything you want, Lori said.

Asked if he wanted to split, George replied: “Absolutely not. My philosophy is: Why fix what isn’t broken?”

He was born in West Reading on September 18, 1961, with his skull partially fused. George had spina bifida and couldn’t walk, so he needed a special wheelchair. Lori played a caregiver-type role during her life.

When he was a child, he was placed in an institution for people with severe mental disabilities, even though he had no disability.

“We learned to take care of ourselves at a very young age and got excellent grades in school,” Lori said.

After the age of 24, he became alone and lived in a high-rise apartment in Reading for several years. Lori worked in a hospital laundry for six years – George would read or listen to music while his sister worked.

In his obituary, Lowry was described as a trophy-winning bowler.

His family consists of his father and six siblings.

Funeral services will be private.