Fundraiser: Navy veteran who held yard sales to raise money for funeral dies
(FOX NEWS/WTXF) - A 66-year-old U.S. Navy veteran who was selling his possessions at weekend yard sales to raise money for his own funeral has died, according to a GoFundMe page setup for him.
Willie Davis, of Cambria County, Pa., was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma. His GoFundMe page said he wanted to raise enough cash to be buried next to his parents in Culpepper, Va. The goal was $40,000 and he exceeded $60,000.
"Unfortunately our buddy Willie Davis lost his battle with cancer. We're happy to know that he is no longer suffering. We were fortunate to come across Willie's yard sale that day. Thank you to everyone who helped our effort to making Willie's final wish come true. It was an honor to allow him to rest and have some peace of mind during his final few months."
The page was created by two men, David Dunkleberger and his friend, Ed Sheets, after visiting Davis' yard sale in Brownstown, Pa., in August. When they asked whose funeral Davis was financing, he replied: "Mine."
Davis served in the Navy from 1970-76 during the Vietnam War, WJAC-TV reported.
The GoFundMe campaign reached its goal of $15,000 early Thursday, and the person who put the fundraiser over the top posted: "I saw that $20 was needed to reach the goal and was honored to be the person to reach the finish line and ensure this Navy Veteran can know that his final expenses will be covered. Thank you for your sacrifices in defending the freedoms we still enjoy, sir. God bless you."
The two men wrote that any leftover money would go to help another veteran in need.