80-Y-O Man Writes Own Obituary Then Dies on Sunday; No Flowers, He Says, Do Something Kind for 'Some Poor Unfortunate Soul'
Walter George Bruhl Jr., an 80-year-old husband, father and grandfather died on Sunday, leaving behind a funny and heartwarming obituary he wrote while he was alive, asking friends and family to do something kind for the poor instead of sending flowers.
The obituary was discovered by his family and posted on Reddit by his grandson, Sam Bruhl, and published in full by Delaware's Cape Gazette Tuesday.
"Walter George Bruhl Jr. of Newark and Dewey Beach is a dead person; he is no more; he is bereft of life; he is deceased; he has rung down the curtain and gone to join the choir invisible; he has expired and gone to meet his maker," it began.
"He drifted off this mortal coil Sunday, March 9, 2014, in Punta Gorda, Fla. His spirit was released from his worn-out shell of a body and is now exploring the universe."
He then delves into a proud account of his work history until he gets to the part of his funeral arrangements.
"There will be no viewing since his wife refuses to honor his request to have him standing in the corner of the room with a glass of Jack Daniels in his hand so he would appear natural to visitors," he wrote.
"Cremation will take place at the family's convenience, and his ashes will be kept in an urn until they get tired of having it around. What's a Grecian Urn? Oh, about 200 drachmas a week," he noted.
"Everyone who remembers him is asked to celebrate Walt's life in their own way; raising a glass of their favorite drink in his memory would be quite appropriate. Instead of flowers, Walt would hope that you will do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness for some poor unfortunate soul in his name," he ended.
According to the Gazette, a memorial luncheon will be held in his honor on Saturday, March 15, at 1 p.m., in Deerfield, Newark.