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A Sweet 79-Year-Old Man Pays Off A $14 Debt From 1958
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A Sweet 79-Year-Old Man Pays Off A $14 Debt From 1958

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I was at a BBQ recently when a friend of mine told me a story so incredible and heartwarming that I just had to share it here (along with a little drawing). Our friend Brian Barry owns a car dealership in Danbury, Iowa and he recently received a letter that you have to read to believe. Here is what the letter said:

More info: Instagram | Facebook

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    “September
    10 – 2019

    Dear Sir (Vincent, Robert, William) Barry

    Back in the 1950’s I worked for you – getting cars ready, cleanup yard and stuff while in High School at Danbury.

    You let me have an old Mercury to drive as part of my job. One day I was invited to sing at a solo contest at Westmar College in LeMars. Since I had only rags&worn out shoes you loaned me the money to buy a white shirt and a pair of shoes. I got you all paid off but I still owed you $14.00.

    I’m 79 years now and ready to go out. I have heart(?), COPD and I just had a small stroke.

    I should have done this earlier but being poor I just never had enough. I promised to the Lord I won’t have debts. Here is $20.00 – Hopefully I can be forgiven for not paying you back soon enough.

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    Thank you,
    God Respects,

    Bob Bradley”

    Included in the envelope was a $20 bill. Brian and everyone at the dealership were in shock (and tears)

    Brian then did a little detective work to find Bob on Facebook

    He sent him a very nice thank you message

    Bill and Bob Barry – men that lent Bob the money for the clothes back in the 1950s

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    The Barry building then and now

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    The world needs stories like this right now and we need people like Bob, Vincent, Robert, and William. We need to be inspired by goodness. We need unconditional kindness, respect, generosity, and gratitude. Thank you, Bob Bradley, and to everyone in this story for showing us all how to be good human beings. And thank you, Brian Barry, for sharing this story with us and providing all of these wonderful photos.

    I own a company that illustrates people and their stories – both sad and happy, so it was a pure joy to do a little drawing of Bob and his $20

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    Martin Bruckner

    Martin Bruckner

    Author, Community member

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    I'm the creator of Spaghetti Toes. A place where I draw all of the funny things my daughter says!

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    Martin Bruckner

    Martin Bruckner

    Author, Community member

    I'm the creator of Spaghetti Toes. A place where I draw all of the funny things my daughter says!

    Violeta Draseikaitė

    Violeta Draseikaitė

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

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    My name is Violeta and I am an editor here at Bored Panda. I love reading memes for a living. It’s obviously much more than that, but I appreciate the variety of topics, information, and pics I get to see every day and share with the world! Those funny memes really make my day too. Being born in the ’90s in post-Soviet Lithuania speaks more about me than I’d like to admit. I’m still learning about the world and myself, but I do love my friends, traveling, art, and my cat. My favorite fact to share about myself is that I used to hide meatballs in my friend’s pockets at lunch so I could go play outside. I wish all those meatballs could find their way back to me someday.

    Read less »

    Violeta Draseikaitė

    Violeta Draseikaitė

    Moderator, BoredPanda staff

    My name is Violeta and I am an editor here at Bored Panda. I love reading memes for a living. It’s obviously much more than that, but I appreciate the variety of topics, information, and pics I get to see every day and share with the world! Those funny memes really make my day too. Being born in the ’90s in post-Soviet Lithuania speaks more about me than I’d like to admit. I’m still learning about the world and myself, but I do love my friends, traveling, art, and my cat. My favorite fact to share about myself is that I used to hide meatballs in my friend’s pockets at lunch so I could go play outside. I wish all those meatballs could find their way back to me someday.

    What do you think ?
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    Charlotte Sandoval
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A little bit silly to reply to the letter with a Facebook message. I hope the elderly gentleman will see it and not be waiting for a physical letter. What a beautiful story!

    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thought the same thing. People comment how the world is the way it is & then don't honor the human connection that made it the way it was

    Load More Replies...
    Zoe's Mom
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This must have really been a heavy burden for him if after all this time, he sent the money when he could. I think I would have sent back the $20.00.

    porcupine
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was thinking I would have as well, but I don’t think this guy would have wanted it back considering how much this must have been eating him up. That’d be awesome if they could figure out some kind of creative way to help him out without making him feel like a “charity case.”

    Load More Replies...
    Koala King
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Such a sweet thing to do, and to take of any debts so warm-hearted!

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    Charlotte Sandoval
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A little bit silly to reply to the letter with a Facebook message. I hope the elderly gentleman will see it and not be waiting for a physical letter. What a beautiful story!

    Eagle Girl
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thought the same thing. People comment how the world is the way it is & then don't honor the human connection that made it the way it was

    Load More Replies...
    Zoe's Mom
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This must have really been a heavy burden for him if after all this time, he sent the money when he could. I think I would have sent back the $20.00.

    porcupine
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I was thinking I would have as well, but I don’t think this guy would have wanted it back considering how much this must have been eating him up. That’d be awesome if they could figure out some kind of creative way to help him out without making him feel like a “charity case.”

    Load More Replies...
    Koala King
    Community Member
    5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Such a sweet thing to do, and to take of any debts so warm-hearted!

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