The Generous Elderly Couple - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

unsolvedfan4life · 06-30-2004, 04:13 PM

Does anyone remember the case where the elederly man came to an older couples house and asked if they needed any work to be done. He seemed to be a lonely drifter that needed money. The older couple assured him that he would not leave hungry. So they fixed him a few sandwiches. Before he left they rounded up what ever they had to give him like five or ten dollars. He left and said God Bless You. They went inside for a second and it seemed that he vanished into thin air. Later that christmas they recieved a card that was signed thier special friend and it had 500 dollars in it. For the next 5 years they recieved christmas cards from the same person. Each time they were signed your christain friend, friend or santa. I found the case very heartwarming. It was good to see an uplifting case. Anyone else recall this.

Mijada · 06-30-2004, 07:36 PM

Yes I remember that story but not any of the names or anything. Just goes to show you, What goes around comes around.

mattc · 12-28-2009, 09:08 PM

This is one of my all time favorite cases profiled on UM. For some reason, it really stuck with me. I'm not really sure what to make of it, but they did a wonderful job on the show of making it appear to be as if some sort of "angel" had visited them... fairly far-fetched, but very heart warming.

Any guesses on who might have sent the cards, or any comments on the segment? For anyone who doesn't remember it, it's available on the site that shall remain nameless, under the name "Russell and Jean Johnson."

nohwheregirl · 12-28-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattc

This is one of my all time favorite cases profiled on UM. For some reason, it really stuck with me. I'm not really sure what to make of it, but they did a wonderful job on the show of making it appear to be as if some sort of "angel" had visited them... fairly far-fetched, but very heart warming.

Any guesses on who might have sent the cards, or any comments on the segment? For anyone who doesn't remember it, it's available on the site that shall remain nameless, under the name "Russell and Jean Johnson."

Yeah, I'm more of the "hard boiled" type (as RS would say) when it comes to UM segments - I prefer stores about unexplained deaths and missing persons - but this and the Fritz's WWII soldiers segment are two of my favorites. I think that the Johnsons got it right. I think this man was down and out, didn't have anyone to turn to, and was somehow able to get back on his feet. When you think about it, it's amazing how many of us are just one or two paychecks away from being on the street. He probably memorized their address and vowed to himself that he would return the favor when he could.

browneyes106 · 12-29-2009, 03:13 PM

I agree with the previous poster this and Fritz's story are my favorites.

ms_bates · 01-01-2010, 04:43 PM

I suppose the money could have come from a friend or relative (one of their grown children, perhaps?) who knew that the Johnsons would never accept the money if it weren't given anonymously. But I like to think that it came from the kind stranger that they helped out in his time of need. Truly one of UM's most touching segments. You never know when an act of kindness will come back to you!

Clockworkhigh · 02-27-2010, 03:03 PM

Was he an angel? Maybe. In reality he probably walked the opposite way that the Johnson's thought he would which explains why they didn't see him. I think it probably is the mysterious man. This old couple is down on their luck, it is November, they do a charitable thing for a man in need who just seemed to be at a bad crossroads in his life. Then the man gets a break and starts making money and rewards the Johnson's for their kindness.

Hey I love the typical UM segments of murder and mystery, but it is nice to see these once in a while too. I don't think it was their kids. It says they had 4 grown children and you'd think that they would help their parents at least ONE of them if they knew they were in such dire need. But maybe the parents were too proud, who knows. Still, if it were the kids they would tell them eventually.

Apostapler · 02-27-2010, 11:18 PM

This was always one of my favorite stories. It's just nice to see kindness being returned.

bluejazz87 · 03-18-2010, 01:54 AM

I remember this episode. Been trying to find it on YouTube along with the Edgar Cayce segment. Haven't seen it in a long time. I always thought it was something from the divine...perhaps the stranger was in reality some sort of angel or good spirited entity.

nicoge21 · 03-22-2010, 11:41 AM

It was Russell and Jean Johnson.

Russell Johnson died in 2001.

andreacute07 · 12-17-2010, 10:36 AM

to answer the person ? who asked could the money have come from a friend or family member, no it did not i have heard this story at least 100 times because that is my great aunt and uncle so i hope that helps some.

TracyLynnS · 12-17-2010, 10:57 AM

I remember the story (the couple retired to FL from a city near my home) but I forgot if they were religious people. The bible encourages people to be friendly and helpful to people in need. Here's one verse that I think applies to this particular UM segment:

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

TheCars1986 · 12-17-2010, 08:27 PM

I too was much more into the unexplained death/missing persons cases, but this one was a personal favorite of mine. Call me an optimist, but I've always thought the guy they helped out never forgot them and he in fact was the one sending them the money every Christmas. Was he an angel? We'll I'll probably never know for sure. But in their eyes he was, and that's really all that matters.

Gelatinous Goo · 12-18-2010, 01:28 AM

This is one of my favorite segments. I think I was perhaps ten years old when it first aired, and it's always stuck with me. It's not a mystery that needs to be solved; therein lies its magic and benefit to both Russell and Jean and the rest of us! I always liked the first card, signed only, "Your Christian friend".

As an aside, however, I can assure you that those cards were written by at least two different people. The last Christmas card depicted signed "Santa" was definitely penned by a woman and is assuredly written in a different hand than the others signed "Santa/your friend/your Christian friend". I make my living authenticating historic documents and autographs. Regardless of my opinion, it's still a wonderful story, and perhaps one of the few times that UM didn't manage to scare me as a kid!

crystaldawn · 12-18-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreacute07

to answer the person ? who asked could the money have come from a friend or family member, no it did not i have heard this story at least 100 times because that is my great aunt and uncle so i hope that helps some.

Thanks for posting. Sorry to hear about Russell's passing. Is Jean still alive? They seemed like such a sweet couple.

06-30-2004, 04:13 PM	#1
unsolvedfan4life Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 14, 2004 Location: The Garden State Posts: 214	The Generous Elderly Couple Does anyone remember the case where the elederly man came to an older couples house and asked if they needed any work to be done. He seemed to be a lonely drifter that needed money. The older couple assured him that he would not leave hungry. So they fixed him a few sandwiches. Before he left they rounded up what ever they had to give him like five or ten dollars. He left and said God Bless You. They went inside for a second and it seemed that he vanished into thin air. Later that christmas they recieved a card that was signed thier special friend and it had 500 dollars in it. For the next 5 years they recieved christmas cards from the same person. Each time they were signed your christain friend, friend or santa. I found the case very heartwarming. It was good to see an uplifting case. Anyone else recall this.
	__________________ " Fired for stealing scotch tape."

01-01-2010, 04:43 PM	#6
ms_bates Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 14, 2008 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 134	I suppose the money could have come from a friend or relative (one of their grown children, perhaps?) who knew that the Johnsons would never accept the money if it weren't given anonymously. But I like to think that it came from the kind stranger that they helped out in his time of need. Truly one of UM's most touching segments. You never know when an act of kindness will come back to you!
	Last edited by ms_bates; 01-02-2010 at 01:44 AM.

03-18-2010, 01:54 AM	#9
bluejazz87 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 17, 2010 Location: San Francisco Posts: 203	I remember this episode. Been trying to find it on YouTube along with the Edgar Cayce segment. Haven't seen it in a long time. I always thought it was something from the divine...perhaps the stranger was in reality some sort of angel or good spirited entity.
	__________________ http://dynamo650.blogspot.com/

06-30-2004, 07:36 PM	#2
Mijada Spencers mom Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 02, 2001 Location: eastern US Posts: 4,093	Yes I remember that story but not any of the names or anything. Just goes to show you, What goes around comes around.

12-28-2009, 09:08 PM	#3
mattc Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 16, 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 273	This is one of my all time favorite cases profiled on UM. For some reason, it really stuck with me. I'm not really sure what to make of it, but they did a wonderful job on the show of making it appear to be as if some sort of "angel" had visited them... fairly far-fetched, but very heart warming. Any guesses on who might have sent the cards, or any comments on the segment? For anyone who doesn't remember it, it's available on the site that shall remain nameless, under the name "Russell and Jean Johnson."

12-29-2009, 03:13 PM	#5
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,097	I agree with the previous poster this and Fritz's story are my favorites.

02-27-2010, 03:03 PM	#7
Clockworkhigh Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 29, 2009 Posts: 604	Was he an angel? Maybe. In reality he probably walked the opposite way that the Johnson's thought he would which explains why they didn't see him. I think it probably is the mysterious man. This old couple is down on their luck, it is November, they do a charitable thing for a man in need who just seemed to be at a bad crossroads in his life. Then the man gets a break and starts making money and rewards the Johnson's for their kindness. Hey I love the typical UM segments of murder and mystery, but it is nice to see these once in a while too. I don't think it was their kids. It says they had 4 grown children and you'd think that they would help their parents at least ONE of them if they knew they were in such dire need. But maybe the parents were too proud, who knows. Still, if it were the kids they would tell them eventually.

02-27-2010, 11:18 PM	#8
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	This was always one of my favorite stories. It's just nice to see kindness being returned.

03-22-2010, 11:41 AM	#10
nicoge21 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 19, 2009 Posts: 176	It was Russell and Jean Johnson. Russell Johnson died in 2001.

12-17-2010, 10:36 AM	#11
andreacute07 Member First Time Poster Join Date: Dec 17, 2010 Location: michigan Posts: 1	to answer the person ? who asked could the money have come from a friend or family member, no it did not i have heard this story at least 100 times because that is my great aunt and uncle so i hope that helps some.

12-17-2010, 10:57 AM	#12
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	I remember the story (the couple retired to FL from a city near my home) but I forgot if they were religious people. The bible encourages people to be friendly and helpful to people in need. Here's one verse that I think applies to this particular UM segment: Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

12-17-2010, 08:27 PM	#13
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	I too was much more into the unexplained death/missing persons cases, but this one was a personal favorite of mine. Call me an optimist, but I've always thought the guy they helped out never forgot them and he in fact was the one sending them the money every Christmas. Was he an angel? We'll I'll probably never know for sure. But in their eyes he was, and that's really all that matters.

12-18-2010, 01:28 AM	#14
Gelatinous Goo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 14, 2010 Posts: 573	This is one of my favorite segments. I think I was perhaps ten years old when it first aired, and it's always stuck with me. It's not a mystery that needs to be solved; therein lies its magic and benefit to both Russell and Jean and the rest of us! I always liked the first card, signed only, "Your Christian friend". As an aside, however, I can assure you that those cards were written by at least two different people. The last Christmas card depicted signed "Santa" was definitely penned by a woman and is assuredly written in a different hand than the others signed "Santa/your friend/your Christian friend". I make my living authenticating historic documents and autographs. Regardless of my opinion, it's still a wonderful story, and perhaps one of the few times that UM didn't manage to scare me as a kid!