In a heartwarming revelation, a couple shares how a surprising act of kindness from Paul Walker, transformed their lives and left them forever grateful.
In a world where flaunting wealth is completely normal, a Hollywood star’s heavenly act was kept a secret for over a decade since his death. Paul Walker, well-known for his appearances in the "Fast and Furious" franchise, chose to help a veteran who was struggling to make ends meet. Without revealing his identity, the late actor did the “most generous thing” imaginable.
A couple was quietly browsing a jewelry store located in California’s Santa Barbara in 2004. Kyle Upham, who had just returned from a second tour of duty in Iraq, was accompanied by his wife, Kristen, as they looked for a diamond ring. “I noticed there was someone else in there but didn't give it much thought,” the war veteran told CBS.
However, the couple did not pay much attention to the random co-shopper. “We started looking at rings and whatnot,” Kyle said, adding that the stranger suddenly came close to them. Additionally, he started giving them feedback, which back then the couple found amusing. The military personnel recalled that the man kept saying, “Go bigger,” and Kyle's wife, Kristen kept insisting, “No, look at the prices.”
Following a friendly banter while shopping, the two of them had a brief introduction. Kyle struck up a conversation with a pleasant co-shopper, subsequently discovering that the person was none other than the "Fast and Furious" actor. "When we were talking, we exchanged names and talked about what each of us did," the outlet quoted the veteran as saying.
"And when he found out Kyle just came back from Iraq — I remember seeing the look in his (Walker’s) face," Kristen said, adding that "he kind of transformed." The couple could not afford to buy the $9,000 ring. Eventually, the Uphams left the store empty-handed. However, a saleswoman later called and asked the duo to come back after they had left the store.
"One of the ladies came out holding a bag and just said, 'Here's your ring.' I think both of our mouths dropped," remarked Kristen. Before finally realizing it was none other than Walker who extended his courtesy to the veteran, the couple were under the impression that the jewelry store's workers were behind the act. They got nothing except a smile and the advice to keep it a secret when they questioned the staff members about who had purchased the ring.
In 2013, after Walker died in a car crash, one of the jewelry store’s staff members, Irene King, opened up about the whole incident. Meanwhile, the Uphams revealed that they still had the gift receipt and the family later called Walker’s gesture “the most generous” thing that had ever happened to them. "When we hand down the ring through the generations, there will always be a story to tell," Kyle said. Adding to it, Kristen remembered the gem of a late actor by saying, "His real life speaks volumes of his character. He really did put his money where his mouth is and did good for this world."