The son of Vestula Hunter Brock and Hiram Brock, Willie served in the U.S. Army from 1948-1949.
He arrived in the town of Chester in the late 1990s, but spoke little of his life before that time. For years he was seen walking, or riding a motorized scooter around town, or sitting in front of his tiny apartment next to the First Baptist Church, always accompanied by a dog named Sandy. In fact, a series of dogs named Sandy, all mutts adopted from the local shelter. Though described as cranky by some, Willie was generally kind to those who were kind to him and he was befriended and looked after by a number of Chester citizens. When the first dog named Sandy died, a local police Sgt. buried him under an oak tree in a friend's yard. The second Sandy was killed by a falling limb when a tree was hit by lightning. The third Sandy would lead Willie's scooter down the street, and would be with him to the end. To supplement his $600 monthly Social Security check, Willie raked leaves for a few dollars. A nurse at the local clinic helped him with his healthcare and the occaisional meal and expenses. He spent holidays at her home. Another friend, in whose yard the first Sandy was buried, paid his breakfast bills at a local restaurant and helped him get the apartment next to the church. The Baptist minister and others from the church brought meals to his apartment, though they sometimes had to leave them on the porch. Sometimes Willie would feed Sandy, going hungry himself. He refused attempts to get him into a nursing home because he would not leave the dog behind. "I am gonna die alone with my dog," he told the church secretary. A few weeks later, after the food left on his porch the previous day was still there, Willie was found dead in his apartment. His dog, Sandy, was with him. In his obituary, Sandy was listed as Willie's best friend and sole survivor. Willie was buried at the county cemetery for the indigent in a donated coffin with a graveside service attended by his friends and Sandy.
After the service, the 3-year-old Sandy was turned over to the Chester County Animal Shelter. The following Sunday a story about Willie and Sandy ran in the local paper. The next morning, before the shelter even opened, the Sexton family was waiting to adopt Sandy. In December 2009 the Sextons brought Sandy to visit Willie Brock's grave, and she seemed to know right where to go, sitting on the gravestone and wagging her tail. The Sextons plan to continue the tradition each year at Christmas, and in April on Willie's birthday. "That's what families do. Visit the grave of someone who is part of the family. Sandy, Mr. Brock and us. Family." They have also decided to have Sandy begin training as a therapy dog who will visit the sick and old in nursing homes and hospitals - people like Willie Brock.
He arrived in the town of Chester in the late 1990s, but spoke little of his life before that time. For years he was seen walking, or riding a motorized scooter around town, or sitting in front of his tiny apartment next to the First Baptist Church, always accompanied by a dog named Sandy. In fact, a series of dogs named Sandy, all mutts adopted from the local shelter. Though described as cranky by some, Willie was generally kind to those who were kind to him and he was befriended and looked after by a number of Chester citizens. When the first dog named Sandy died, a local police Sgt. buried him under an oak tree in a friend's yard. The second Sandy was killed by a falling limb when a tree was hit by lightning. The third Sandy would lead Willie's scooter down the street, and would be with him to the end. To supplement his $600 monthly Social Security check, Willie raked leaves for a few dollars. A nurse at the local clinic helped him with his healthcare and the occaisional meal and expenses. He spent holidays at her home. Another friend, in whose yard the first Sandy was buried, paid his breakfast bills at a local restaurant and helped him get the apartment next to the church. The Baptist minister and others from the church brought meals to his apartment, though they sometimes had to leave them on the porch. Sometimes Willie would feed Sandy, going hungry himself. He refused attempts to get him into a nursing home because he would not leave the dog behind. "I am gonna die alone with my dog," he told the church secretary. A few weeks later, after the food left on his porch the previous day was still there, Willie was found dead in his apartment. His dog, Sandy, was with him. In his obituary, Sandy was listed as Willie's best friend and sole survivor. Willie was buried at the county cemetery for the indigent in a donated coffin with a graveside service attended by his friends and Sandy.
After the service, the 3-year-old Sandy was turned over to the Chester County Animal Shelter. The following Sunday a story about Willie and Sandy ran in the local paper. The next morning, before the shelter even opened, the Sexton family was waiting to adopt Sandy. In December 2009 the Sextons brought Sandy to visit Willie Brock's grave, and she seemed to know right where to go, sitting on the gravestone and wagging her tail. The Sextons plan to continue the tradition each year at Christmas, and in April on Willie's birthday. "That's what families do. Visit the grave of someone who is part of the family. Sandy, Mr. Brock and us. Family." They have also decided to have Sandy begin training as a therapy dog who will visit the sick and old in nursing homes and hospitals - people like Willie Brock.
The son of Vestula Hunter Brock and Hiram Brock, Willie served in the U.S. Army from 1948-1949.
He arrived in the town of Chester in the late 1990s, but spoke little of his life before that time. For years he was seen walking, or riding a motorized scooter around town, or sitting in front of his tiny apartment next to the First Baptist Church, always accompanied by a dog named Sandy. In fact, a series of dogs named Sandy, all mutts adopted from the local shelter. Though described as cranky by some, Willie was generally kind to those who were kind to him and he was befriended and looked after by a number of Chester citizens. When the first dog named Sandy died, a local police Sgt. buried him under an oak tree in a friend's yard. The second Sandy was killed by a falling limb when a tree was hit by lightning. The third Sandy would lead Willie's scooter down the street, and would be with him to the end. To supplement his $600 monthly Social Security check, Willie raked leaves for a few dollars. A nurse at the local clinic helped him with his healthcare and the occaisional meal and expenses. He spent holidays at her home. Another friend, in whose yard the first Sandy was buried, paid his breakfast bills at a local restaurant and helped him get the apartment next to the church. The Baptist minister and others from the church brought meals to his apartment, though they sometimes had to leave them on the porch. Sometimes Willie would feed Sandy, going hungry himself. He refused attempts to get him into a nursing home because he would not leave the dog behind. "I am gonna die alone with my dog," he told the church secretary. A few weeks later, after the food left on his porch the previous day was still there, Willie was found dead in his apartment. His dog, Sandy, was with him. In his obituary, Sandy was listed as Willie's best friend and sole survivor. Willie was buried at the county cemetery for the indigent in a donated coffin with a graveside service attended by his friends and Sandy.
After the service, the 3-year-old Sandy was turned over to the Chester County Animal Shelter. The following Sunday a story about Willie and Sandy ran in the local paper. The next morning, before the shelter even opened, the Sexton family was waiting to adopt Sandy. In December 2009 the Sextons brought Sandy to visit Willie Brock's grave, and she seemed to know right where to go, sitting on the gravestone and wagging her tail. The Sextons plan to continue the tradition each year at Christmas, and in April on Willie's birthday. "That's what families do. Visit the grave of someone who is part of the family. Sandy, Mr. Brock and us. Family." They have also decided to have Sandy begin training as a therapy dog who will visit the sick and old in nursing homes and hospitals - people like Willie Brock.
He arrived in the town of Chester in the late 1990s, but spoke little of his life before that time. For years he was seen walking, or riding a motorized scooter around town, or sitting in front of his tiny apartment next to the First Baptist Church, always accompanied by a dog named Sandy. In fact, a series of dogs named Sandy, all mutts adopted from the local shelter. Though described as cranky by some, Willie was generally kind to those who were kind to him and he was befriended and looked after by a number of Chester citizens. When the first dog named Sandy died, a local police Sgt. buried him under an oak tree in a friend's yard. The second Sandy was killed by a falling limb when a tree was hit by lightning. The third Sandy would lead Willie's scooter down the street, and would be with him to the end. To supplement his $600 monthly Social Security check, Willie raked leaves for a few dollars. A nurse at the local clinic helped him with his healthcare and the occaisional meal and expenses. He spent holidays at her home. Another friend, in whose yard the first Sandy was buried, paid his breakfast bills at a local restaurant and helped him get the apartment next to the church. The Baptist minister and others from the church brought meals to his apartment, though they sometimes had to leave them on the porch. Sometimes Willie would feed Sandy, going hungry himself. He refused attempts to get him into a nursing home because he would not leave the dog behind. "I am gonna die alone with my dog," he told the church secretary. A few weeks later, after the food left on his porch the previous day was still there, Willie was found dead in his apartment. His dog, Sandy, was with him. In his obituary, Sandy was listed as Willie's best friend and sole survivor. Willie was buried at the county cemetery for the indigent in a donated coffin with a graveside service attended by his friends and Sandy.
After the service, the 3-year-old Sandy was turned over to the Chester County Animal Shelter. The following Sunday a story about Willie and Sandy ran in the local paper. The next morning, before the shelter even opened, the Sexton family was waiting to adopt Sandy. In December 2009 the Sextons brought Sandy to visit Willie Brock's grave, and she seemed to know right where to go, sitting on the gravestone and wagging her tail. The Sextons plan to continue the tradition each year at Christmas, and in April on Willie's birthday. "That's what families do. Visit the grave of someone who is part of the family. Sandy, Mr. Brock and us. Family." They have also decided to have Sandy begin training as a therapy dog who will visit the sick and old in nursing homes and hospitals - people like Willie Brock.
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