Homeless guy leaves behind $4 million

Chris Spags Founder and Editor

You know how you routinely step over homeless people or bludgeon them to death to briefly fill the void in your life? Turns out that might be something of an error…check out this guy who, despite being homeless, left behind a $4 million estate.

homeless20sign Homeless guy leaves behind $4 million

Every day on NPR, listeners hear funding credits or, in other words, very short, simple commercials.

A few weeks ago, a new one made it to air: “Support for NPR comes from the estate of Richard Leroy Walters, whose life was enriched by NPR, and whose bequest seeks to encourage others to discover public radio.”

An article in the online newsletter of a Catholic mission in Phoenix revealed that Walters died two years ago at the age of 76. He left an estate worth about $4 million. Along with the money he left for NPR, Walters also left money for the mission.

But something distinguished Walters from any number of solvent, well-to-do Americans with seven-figure estates: He was homeless.

Walters was a retired engineer from AlliedSignal Corp.; an honors graduate of Purdue with a master’s degree; and a Marine. Walters never married, didn’t have children and was estranged from his brother. But he wasn’t friendless.

Rita Belle, a registered nurse, met Walters at a senior center 13 years ago.

“He always came in with a little backpack on and a cap on,” Belle tells Siegel. “And always kind of looked at me, but [was] very reserved. And I’m very outgoing and outspoken. So I said to him, ‘Hey, you got a minute can we sit down to visit?’ And we’d have coffee there at the senior center.”

Belle and Walters became friends. Belle stayed with Walters when he was ill. She became his nurse and ultimately the executor of his estate.

Definitely an interesting little tale, and one that really teaches us all an important lesson about being nice to others in spite of their perceived lack of ways to make your life better. But at the same time, I can’t help but wonder…after hanging out with this old, lonely homeless dude for 13 years, was Rita Belle jerking off his wrinkly, smelly cock? She had to be, right? I mean I’m sure she was a great friend and whatever, but I fundamentally believe no man really cares about the companionship of a woman, particularly if he’s wholly unsatisfied, so she must have given him a little rub and tug at least once right? It’s called being a good Samaritan.

Best part of NPR’s story though is this:

Evidently, among his few possessions was a radio. Hence those announcements listeners hear now and again on NPR stations.

Yes, that was the last line of the story. So this story of charity and a man living without possessions was basically turned into a plug to donate to NPR. Specifically, for the homeless to donate to NPR. Which makes sense because you’re barely getting by on Earth, how could you possibly live without someone drolly reading a New York Times piece on President Obama’s healthcare policy? It’s an inspiration.

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