Correction (Sept. 30, 2011: 11:20 a.m.): Virginia Shiplett died of complications related to smoke inhalation on Monday at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, after being transferred from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. Previous versions of this story listed an incorrect location of death. The story has been updated. | Our corrections policy

A 79-year-old woman whose husband was killed last week in an apartment fire in southwest Roanoke County died Monday night from complications related to smoke inhalation, her son said.

Virginia Shiplett died at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, after being transferred from Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., where she was taken after the Sept.19 blaze in the Sussex Court apartment she shared with her husband near Electric Road. She had been breathing with the help of a respirator during her treatment there, said her son, Allan Shiplett.

The fire, which the fire marshal said was started by careless smoking, burned through the couple's living room.

Fred Shiplett, 83, was pronounced dead shortly after he was taken from the apartment, the fire department said.