BRUNSWICK, Ohio — Billy Ray Watkins Sr., the Brunswick man who was rescued while his house was on fire last month, has passed away at the age of 79 after battling brain cancer.
Watkins died on Monday, his family confirmed to 3News.
“My husband has gone home to be with the Lord," Billy Ray Sr.'s wife Beverly told 3News. "I want to thank all of you for supporting us through the fire and this hard time. I will be rebuilding my life and home but it will take time and every one of you who gave and supported me out of the love of your heart means everything to me. Thank you all for your prayers, thoughts and donations in my time of need. It has given me such peace to be surrounded by such love.”
As 3News' Lindsay Buckingham reported, amid Billy Ray Sr.'s battle with stage four glioblastoma, the house he and Beverly lived in for 40 years burned to the ground.
As Beverly's son, Billy Ray, Jr., struggled to get his ailing dad to safety during the fire, she says a man appeared out of nowhere.
"I didn't even see him. He came up behind me and he says, 'Can I help you?' And I says, 'Well, help me get my husband over there. 'Cause he is very ill. He can't walk.' So, he did," she said.
Beverly made a plea for the "angel" that helped Billy Ray Sr. to come forward.
A few days later, and after seeing 3News' initial story, Ryan Thompson reached out to the Watkinses and reunited with them at their granddaughter's home.
"I was coming down Grafton, going to my girlfriend's house," Ryan recalled, "and called her and said, 'It might take a little bit longer, because there's a garage on fire."
Ryan says he got of his car and offered help, moving Billy Ray Jr.'s parents carefully across the street into a relative's home.
"So I was grateful for me to turn around and see Ryan there giving my mom another extra hand," Billy Ray Jr. said, "because I ran across the street to get ahold of our neighbors so we could get 911 on the roll."
Despite being on borrowed time, Billy Ray Sr. did get to thank the man who helped save him from the fire.
"I saw somebody needed help, you know? That's really it," Ryan explained. "I didn't ... I don't think I did anything that special. I'm very appreciative that they're grateful."
Beverly was beyond grateful in her words about Ryan.
"I want to thank God for Ryan, because he gave him a kind heart. And that's what it takes in this world: A kind heart and people working together. That's who I want to thank. He was an angel to me, whether he wants to accept that title or not," Beverly told us. "So I want to thank my son for helping him be there with me, help get [my husband] out."
It was a team effort that has bonded the Watkinses to their guardian angel for life. In fact, Ryan was there to help celebrate Billy Ray Sr.'s 79th birthday along with the rest of the Watkins family.
"He (Ryan) actually spent all day here. It was pretty cool," Billy Ray Jr. said.
To help the Watkins family, please click HERE.
