Krystal Newsome at her wedding to Skyler Newsome (unpictured). To her left are Cornelius “Whitey” Newsome and Judy Newsome. Photo provided by Skyler Newsome.

By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — A GoFundMe campaign has been created for a Warsaw couple after a vehicle hit their home on Jan. 23.

The recipients are Cornelius “Whitey” and Judy Newsome, and the GoFundMe creator is the Newsomes’ grandson, Skyler. Skyler described his grandparents as a staple of Warsaw, having lived in Warsaw for 48 years and recently celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary.

Cornelius served in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was stationed in Germany. He worked as a manager at Zimmer in the 1980s before he and Judy began a cleaning company. Skyler recalls traveling with his grandparents while they went to clean businesses such as Zimmer, Biomet and Medtronic.

“They were kind of like celebrities to me, because everybody seemed to know them. To this day I’ll meet people and they’ll be like, ‘Oh is your grandfather Cornelius and your grandma Judy?’” Skyler said. He added that Cornelius never met a stranger. Whether selling an item or at a restaurant, “he’s always looking for a reason to be friends with somebody.”

When Skyler lived with his grandparents as a child, he said they treated his friends as their own, which was how they treated everyone.

“They love having visitors, offering food, water or coffee to whoever comes in the door,” Skyler said. “I set up the GoFundMe because I knew neither of them would ask for help. They’ve always wanted to give and their favorite time to give is when they have visitors.”

Cornelius retired in the 2000s due to health complications from diabetes. “He didn’t really want to retire, even now to this day he’s planning projects and making stuff happen,” Skyler said.

In 2023, following a cumulative six months in the hospital, the family were informed that Cornelius’ body could no longer handle dialysis and he was transitioned to hospice care at home. Cornelius also had to have an amputation on his right leg below the knee to stop the spread of gangrenous tissue.

While Veterans Affairs have covered over $100,000 in medical bills, Skyler said that Cornelius’ stay at a rehabilitation facility following the amputation was not covered.

On Jan. 23, while Skyler was visiting with his wife and siblings, a vehicle crashed into Cornelius and Judy’s house.

“The timing was pretty insane,” Skyler recalled. “It reminds me of that old wives’ tale where if a bird flies into your window that’s a bad omen. Well, in this case the bird was a car and the window the side of the house.”

At the time, Skyler said, Cornelius was “laying there in bed and just talking about how proud he is of everybody and how thankful he is that we’re all there. And he said ‘we’re just so blessed as a family.’ And then within two minutes (we) felt the house shake.”

Initially they thought an item fell upstairs, until Skyler’s sister, Raygan Wright, discovered the accident. None of the family were hurt in the accident, Skyler said, adding that his wife, Krystal, a certified nurse, checked everyone while they waited for first responders to arrive.

“(Cornelius) bought (the house) when it was just an old farmhouse and a chain link fence,” Skyler said. “For the past 50 years he has been building that place up into a place that he can experience the end of his life comfortably and leave to my grandma, from the kids to the grandkids.”

After first responders left, Skyler pushed his grandfather in a wheelchair to see the damage. “I could tell that it just broke his heart.”

According to the GoFundMe page, the accident broke water lines, and the bathroom will have to be demolished and rebuilt. The house does have another bathroom, but Judy will not be able to do laundry until repairs are completed, Skyler said. The water pipes, which Skyler said had just unfrozen the day before, are turned off.

The $6,000 goal will go toward end of life care for Cornelius and structural repairs. Skyler hopes to raise additional funds to help Judy cover additional expenses caused by the accident.

Some of the first donations came from old friends, Skyler said. “That really picked up all of us and reaffirmed my perspective on how my grandparents have dealt with people in the past. Some of these people haven’t spoken to my grandparents in 20 years. They’re here when they’re needed. It’s been really cool to see all that come together.”

Skyler encouraged friends to stop and visit, but advised that Cornelius will become sleepy due to being on hospice care. “Their connection with people is the most powerful thing that they have,” Skyler explained. “So I think that would be the best way to let them know they’re not alone.”

To donate to the fundraiser, go to www.gofundme.com/f/help-needed-for-end-of-life-care-and-transition