Man Misses His Brother's Funeral.....

[K C Muffin]

Richard Tripp presided over his annual charity drive Saturday with a heavy heart. His brother, Randy Bruce Tripp, died last Sunday of leukemia at age 50. Randy was buried Saturday in Stockton, Mo.

Richard Tripp viewed his brother’s body Friday morning at the funeral home in Stockton. But on the day of the burial, Tripp was tending to his other family — the thousands of poor and homeless who combed through tables of donated clothing and ate the hot food at the Survival 5 charity event at a downtown warehouse. “It’s a hard decision to make when I’ve got this many people that depend on me,” Tripp said.

Tripp started his nonprofit organization, Care of Poor People, 14 years ago after spending time living on the street and sleeping under the Broadway Bridge. Since then, he has dedicated his life to helping the poor and homeless, supporting himself through his day job as a cabdriver. With the help of a steering committee, Tripp puts on two charity drives each year, one in the spring and one near Thanksgiving. Tripp said his efforts have inspired similar drives in 40 cities this year.

Sitting behind the wheel of his cab, Tripp reflected on the spirit of unity he sees at the charity drives. “The whole community comes together,” he said.
Saturday’s event provided those in need with donated items such as clothing, toiletries and food. Tripp expected thousands of people to take advantage of the drive. At least 100 volunteers were on hand to help out.

Tripp said donations of money, food and clothing were down this year because so many people had donated to Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. He hoped Kansas Citians wouldn’t forget about their own back yard. “This is so much different because you can see where the donations are going,” Tripp said. They went to people like Bobbie McWilliams of Kansas City, who said the donated clothes will help her make it through the winter.

“I only take what I can use,” she said. “On the bus line, you can’t travel very far with lots of bags.” McWilliams and her fiance, Mitchell, had at least one valuable find Saturday. “We got two Chiefs shirts,” she said. “We’re wearing them tomorrow, so they’d better win or we’ll be looking like two sad ducks.”

Although Tripp couldn’t be in Stockton to bury his brother, his family stood behind him at the charity drive. Several of his 12 children were there, and 10 grandchildren were on hand to help out. As he sat behind the wheel of his cab, three of his grandchildren — Jaheim, Nakkia and Stephanie Jones — wandered over with their mother, Lisa, to sit in Grandpa’s lap.

I don't get it - methinks there were problems in this family or else the dead brother's family would have scheduled the funeral for a day the brother could be there. Hmmmm.

[Lone Gunman]

You may be right. That's great work he's doing but you'd think the family would want him there.

[Fred Sanford]

Yeah, it's good work he's doing, but his priorities seem confused. I hate to say it but it seems as though maybe he likes the ego boost he gets from his work more than he liked his brother.

[lurker]

One brother lived homelessly and the other prolly chastised him. I'll bet they weren't close.

[K C Muffin]

My thoughts exactly, guys. I don't exactly live the same lifestyle as any of my brothers or sisters, but I would hope they would come to my funeral or I to theirs. It's a whole issue of priorities. Momma taught us better. What was he thinking............

[Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Fred Sanford

Yeah, it's good work he's doing, but his priorities seem confused. I hate to say it but it seems as though maybe he likes the ego boost he gets from his work more than he liked his brother.

Or maybe the family still looks at him as a bum and scheduled the funeral at their convenience rather than giving any consideration to him or his work.

[TheWizzard]

Who said he has to attend the funeral to pay his respects. If this is how he spent his life.. then Im sure his brother new this and would expect nothing more of him than to follow though with the work that means so much to him. The way I look at it, when is brother died he went to a better place. What is left is his body. When people attend funerals they are attending for themselves. Saying their goodbyes. You can say your goodbyes anyway you want either at a funeral, or the entire time you are doing work that means so much to you and for all we know it could have meant a lot to his brother also. I think he did the right thing. He can carry his brother in his heart forever.

[Fred Sanford]

[quote=TheWizzard] If this is how he spent his life.. then Im sure his brother new this and would expect nothing more of him than to follow though with the work that means so much to him.

Yeah, to HIM! Funerals are not about what is important to those who attend; it's about the departed.

The way I look at it, when is brother died he went to a better place. What is left is his body.

Yeah that's one way to look at it, but in our culture it is considered important/proper to attend the funeral. That's why people attend them.

When people attend funerals they are attending for themselves.

I disagree. They are showing respect to the deceased, his family and his friends. I've attended dozens, and never went to one for myself.

Saying their goodbyes. You can say your goodbyes anyway you want either at a funeral, or the entire time you are doing work that means so much to you and for all we know it could have meant a lot to his brother also. I think he did the right thing. He can carry his brother in his heart forever.

Fair enough. I just think it is selfish of the brother to even consider what is important to himself at a time like that. He has the rest of his life to devote every single day to his cause if hge wants; he only had one chance to attend his brother's funeral. And he blew it.