VETERAN HAS YARD SALE TO FUND OWN FUNERAL!
STUNNED CUSTOMERS HELP RAISE THOUSANDS FOR CANCER VICTIM
BRAVELY facing the end, a terminally ill veteran held a yard sale to fund his own funeral, and two young men were so moved by his story, they raised enough cash so he — and other American heroes — will get the final send-offs they deserve!
When pals David Dunkleberger and Ed Sheets, both 27, stopped by a sidewalk sale in Western Pennsylvania this summer, they didn’t realize it was a deadly serious endeavor for Navy vet Willie Davis.
After the men spent a collective $10 on their purchases, which included glass bottles and a railroad stock certificate, Willie told them he was trying to scrounge together money for a burial.
“I said, ‘Whose funeral?’ And he said, ‘Mine,’ ” recalled David. “I can only imagine my face when he said that to me.”
Willie, 66, had received a fatal skin cancer diagnosis and knew it would cost thousands for a funeral and a burial next to his parents in Culpeper, Va., and he didn’t want to saddle his sisters with the expense.
His candid confession haunted the friends, even after they’d left Willie’s home.
“It was such a heartbreaking story,” Ed said. “We decided we had to do something to make his life a little bit easier.”
After David and Ed posted an online call for donations on Willie’s behalf, bighearted strangers pitched in more than $62,000!
“I was trying to do it all on my own. Then two wonderful people came through and decided they were going to help me,” said Willie, who admitted he’d been overwhelmed by getting his affairs in order, including finding homes for his three beloved dogs.
Since the donations will more than cover his expenses, Willie plans to use the remainder to launch a foundation to help pay for the burial costs of other veterans in need.