MESA, Ariz. (KTVK) -- Do you remember the viral story about the Arizona grandmother and the teenage boy who accidentally exchanged texts that led to their two families celebrating Thanksgiving together for years to come?
The grandmother is Wanda Dench, and her husband, Lonnie Dench, was a huge part of turning their texting mishap into a new Thanksgiving tradition.
Sadly, Lonnie has passed away from coronavirus.
Look in the dictionary under the word "love," and you'll find both of their names. “Muah! That’s what old people do!” Lonnie and Wanda said this past Thanksgiving as they kissed.
AND...
For the past four years, the couple from Mesa, Arizona has opened their home and their hearts to Jamal Hinton, his girlfriend Mikaela and their families on Thanksgiving. Wanda texted the wrong number while trying to text her grandson in 2016. The accidental text went to Jamal.
Just a few weeks ago, on March 10, KTVK reporter Briana Whitney received a check-in text message from Lonnie. Whitney previously reported on accidental text messages that started a new Thanksgiving tradition for two families. Lonnie talked about how he was delivering water to the grocery stores at night, and about how seeing pictures from the past Thanksgivings made him smile during a time of panic for so many.
He had no idea he would come down with COVID-19 just weeks later, and it would ultimately take his life.
Wanda sent Arizona’s Family these words remembering her husband:
“He had the truest heart of love, like no other. He did so many acts of kindness that no one ever heard about. He was my hero. And I’m a better person because of him.”
Lonnie was the first to greet everyone on Thanksgiving and the last to say goodbye.
Now, he leaves behind a community that’s thankful to have been even a small part of his Thanksgiving. He was a reminder in their world what giving thanks, and genuine love is all about.
AND...
Husband of woman famous for Thanksgiving text to stranger dies of coronavirus: The husband of a woman who became famous in 2016 for a Thanksgiving-related texting mix-up has died from complications related to COVID-19. Lonnie Dench, whose wife, Wanda, accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to dinner four years ago, died over the weekend, according to Hinton, who spent the last four Thanksgivings with the family. “Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!” he wrote on Twitter. Hinton, 20, previously tweeted that both Lonnie and Wanda had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. When Wanda sent that first text in 2016, thinking it was to her grandson, Hinton responded by asking her to send a photo of herself so he could confirm it was his own grandmother. When the photo of Dench came back, Hinton replied with a laughing emoji, “You’re not my grandma.” He then sent a selfie of his own and asked if he could still come over for Thanksgiving. Dench replied and said, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone.”
Interment will be private. (Due to the worldwide coronavirus; AKA: COVID-19)
The grandmother is Wanda Dench, and her husband, Lonnie Dench, was a huge part of turning their texting mishap into a new Thanksgiving tradition.
Sadly, Lonnie has passed away from coronavirus.
Look in the dictionary under the word "love," and you'll find both of their names. “Muah! That’s what old people do!” Lonnie and Wanda said this past Thanksgiving as they kissed.
AND...
For the past four years, the couple from Mesa, Arizona has opened their home and their hearts to Jamal Hinton, his girlfriend Mikaela and their families on Thanksgiving. Wanda texted the wrong number while trying to text her grandson in 2016. The accidental text went to Jamal.
Just a few weeks ago, on March 10, KTVK reporter Briana Whitney received a check-in text message from Lonnie. Whitney previously reported on accidental text messages that started a new Thanksgiving tradition for two families. Lonnie talked about how he was delivering water to the grocery stores at night, and about how seeing pictures from the past Thanksgivings made him smile during a time of panic for so many.
He had no idea he would come down with COVID-19 just weeks later, and it would ultimately take his life.
Wanda sent Arizona’s Family these words remembering her husband:
“He had the truest heart of love, like no other. He did so many acts of kindness that no one ever heard about. He was my hero. And I’m a better person because of him.”
Lonnie was the first to greet everyone on Thanksgiving and the last to say goodbye.
Now, he leaves behind a community that’s thankful to have been even a small part of his Thanksgiving. He was a reminder in their world what giving thanks, and genuine love is all about.
AND...
Husband of woman famous for Thanksgiving text to stranger dies of coronavirus: The husband of a woman who became famous in 2016 for a Thanksgiving-related texting mix-up has died from complications related to COVID-19. Lonnie Dench, whose wife, Wanda, accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to dinner four years ago, died over the weekend, according to Hinton, who spent the last four Thanksgivings with the family. “Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!” he wrote on Twitter. Hinton, 20, previously tweeted that both Lonnie and Wanda had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. When Wanda sent that first text in 2016, thinking it was to her grandson, Hinton responded by asking her to send a photo of herself so he could confirm it was his own grandmother. When the photo of Dench came back, Hinton replied with a laughing emoji, “You’re not my grandma.” He then sent a selfie of his own and asked if he could still come over for Thanksgiving. Dench replied and said, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone.”
Interment will be private. (Due to the worldwide coronavirus; AKA: COVID-19)
MESA, Ariz. (KTVK) -- Do you remember the viral story about the Arizona grandmother and the teenage boy who accidentally exchanged texts that led to their two families celebrating Thanksgiving together for years to come?
The grandmother is Wanda Dench, and her husband, Lonnie Dench, was a huge part of turning their texting mishap into a new Thanksgiving tradition.
Sadly, Lonnie has passed away from coronavirus.
Look in the dictionary under the word "love," and you'll find both of their names. “Muah! That’s what old people do!” Lonnie and Wanda said this past Thanksgiving as they kissed.
AND...
For the past four years, the couple from Mesa, Arizona has opened their home and their hearts to Jamal Hinton, his girlfriend Mikaela and their families on Thanksgiving. Wanda texted the wrong number while trying to text her grandson in 2016. The accidental text went to Jamal.
Just a few weeks ago, on March 10, KTVK reporter Briana Whitney received a check-in text message from Lonnie. Whitney previously reported on accidental text messages that started a new Thanksgiving tradition for two families. Lonnie talked about how he was delivering water to the grocery stores at night, and about how seeing pictures from the past Thanksgivings made him smile during a time of panic for so many.
He had no idea he would come down with COVID-19 just weeks later, and it would ultimately take his life.
Wanda sent Arizona’s Family these words remembering her husband:
“He had the truest heart of love, like no other. He did so many acts of kindness that no one ever heard about. He was my hero. And I’m a better person because of him.”
Lonnie was the first to greet everyone on Thanksgiving and the last to say goodbye.
Now, he leaves behind a community that’s thankful to have been even a small part of his Thanksgiving. He was a reminder in their world what giving thanks, and genuine love is all about.
AND...
Husband of woman famous for Thanksgiving text to stranger dies of coronavirus: The husband of a woman who became famous in 2016 for a Thanksgiving-related texting mix-up has died from complications related to COVID-19. Lonnie Dench, whose wife, Wanda, accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to dinner four years ago, died over the weekend, according to Hinton, who spent the last four Thanksgivings with the family. “Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!” he wrote on Twitter. Hinton, 20, previously tweeted that both Lonnie and Wanda had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. When Wanda sent that first text in 2016, thinking it was to her grandson, Hinton responded by asking her to send a photo of herself so he could confirm it was his own grandmother. When the photo of Dench came back, Hinton replied with a laughing emoji, “You’re not my grandma.” He then sent a selfie of his own and asked if he could still come over for Thanksgiving. Dench replied and said, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone.”
Interment will be private. (Due to the worldwide coronavirus; AKA: COVID-19)
The grandmother is Wanda Dench, and her husband, Lonnie Dench, was a huge part of turning their texting mishap into a new Thanksgiving tradition.
Sadly, Lonnie has passed away from coronavirus.
Look in the dictionary under the word "love," and you'll find both of their names. “Muah! That’s what old people do!” Lonnie and Wanda said this past Thanksgiving as they kissed.
AND...
For the past four years, the couple from Mesa, Arizona has opened their home and their hearts to Jamal Hinton, his girlfriend Mikaela and their families on Thanksgiving. Wanda texted the wrong number while trying to text her grandson in 2016. The accidental text went to Jamal.
Just a few weeks ago, on March 10, KTVK reporter Briana Whitney received a check-in text message from Lonnie. Whitney previously reported on accidental text messages that started a new Thanksgiving tradition for two families. Lonnie talked about how he was delivering water to the grocery stores at night, and about how seeing pictures from the past Thanksgivings made him smile during a time of panic for so many.
He had no idea he would come down with COVID-19 just weeks later, and it would ultimately take his life.
Wanda sent Arizona’s Family these words remembering her husband:
“He had the truest heart of love, like no other. He did so many acts of kindness that no one ever heard about. He was my hero. And I’m a better person because of him.”
Lonnie was the first to greet everyone on Thanksgiving and the last to say goodbye.
Now, he leaves behind a community that’s thankful to have been even a small part of his Thanksgiving. He was a reminder in their world what giving thanks, and genuine love is all about.
AND...
Husband of woman famous for Thanksgiving text to stranger dies of coronavirus: The husband of a woman who became famous in 2016 for a Thanksgiving-related texting mix-up has died from complications related to COVID-19. Lonnie Dench, whose wife, Wanda, accidentally invited Jamal Hinton to dinner four years ago, died over the weekend, according to Hinton, who spent the last four Thanksgivings with the family. “Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face so I thank every single one of you guys for that!” he wrote on Twitter. Hinton, 20, previously tweeted that both Lonnie and Wanda had tested positive for the novel coronavirus. When Wanda sent that first text in 2016, thinking it was to her grandson, Hinton responded by asking her to send a photo of herself so he could confirm it was his own grandmother. When the photo of Dench came back, Hinton replied with a laughing emoji, “You’re not my grandma.” He then sent a selfie of his own and asked if he could still come over for Thanksgiving. Dench replied and said, “Of course you can. That’s what grandmas do … feed everyone.”
Interment will be private. (Due to the worldwide coronavirus; AKA: COVID-19)
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