Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter won’t attend Barbara Bush’s funeral

Days before celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2016, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter discuss their years together in his office at the Carter Center in Atlanta. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

Days before celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on July 7, 2016, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter discuss their years together in his office at the Carter Center in Atlanta. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter will not be at Barbara Bush’s funeral Saturday.

“President and Mrs. Carter regret that they are unable to attend,” the Carter Center in Atlanta said in a statement Thursday morning. “President Carter will be on a private trip overseas, and although she is recovering, Mrs. Carter is not yet able to travel following her recent intestinal surgery.”

Rosalynn Carter, 90, had surgery on Feb. 18 to remove "troubling scar tissue" from a portion of her small intestine. Three weeks later, the 93-year-old former president happily informed the Sunday school class he was teaching at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains that his wife had just phoned him to say that she was finally on her way home from Atlanta, where she'd been recovering following the surgery at Emory University Hospital.

In this Jan. 20, 2017 file photo, from left, former President Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, former President Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and former President George W. Bush wait for the 58th Presidential Inauguration to begin at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. "

Credit: Andrew Harnik

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Credit: Andrew Harnik

The wife and mother of two former presidents, Barbara Bush died Tuesday at the age of 92, with her husband of 73 years, George H.W. Bush, holding her hand. Soon after her death was announced, the Carters, who have been married nearly 72 years, released a heartfelt statement mourning her passing.

First Lady Melania Trump will attend the invitation-only funeral on Friday in Houston. President Donald Trump is not expected to be there.

Joining Mrs. Trump at the private service for Bush will be Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama, their offices confirmed.