An 82 year-old Walmart cashier who is also a U.S. Navy veteran has finally been able to retire after a viral TikTok video led to over $100,000 being raised for him.
LISTEN: 82-year-old WalMart worker is able to retire after a TikTok video goes viral and helps him raise $100,000.
The retiree, Butch Marion, and the man who helped him make the video, Rory McCarty, join America Reports. #AmericaReports pic.twitter.com/GxKJ5PAtGq
— America Reports (@AmericaRpts) January 9, 2023
Veteran Retires After Viral TikTok
Fox News reported that Butch Marion of Cumberland, Maryland retired last week after he was given a check for $108,682 that had been raised for him through a GoFundMe page. Prior to his retirement, Marion was working as a cashier at the local Walmart for 40 hours a week, according to Daily Mail.
Everything changed for Marion when the social media user Rory McCarty, who owns a bug extermination business, came into the Walmart one day to buy some batteries. McCarty had recently seen another TikTok video in which a woman filmed an elderly employee bagging groceries and was then able to raise money for her, so he decided to try and do the same thing for Marion.
“I just wanted to put something in motion and the Lord did the rest,” McCarty explained.
Check out the TikTok he made, and find out more about Marion, in the video below.
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Over $100K Raised For Marion
The video immediately went viral, and it has since garnered over two million views. McCarty then set up a GoFundMe page for Marion in the hopes that he could raise enough for the veteran that he would finally be able to retire.
“I was shopping at Walmart the other day, and was waited on by an 82yr old man named Butch,” McCarty said as he set up the fundraiser. “As a business owner and knowing how hard it’s been to try to find good help for my business. I was astounded seeing this little older man still grinding.”
“Working 8 to 9 hour shifts,” he continued. “Recently seeing a GoFundMe for a 82 yr old lady working at Walmart on TikTok, and seeing they raised money for her to retire for good. I wanted to help this Navy Veteran to live the remainder of his years traveling to see his kids in Florida. Get him off his feet for 8hrs at a time. And do the things he would love to do that he may not be able to for financial reasons.”
McCarty concluded by assuring those who donated that all the money would go to Marion and his family.
82-year-old Butch Marion officially left his job on Wednesday after online donors raised more than $108,000 for him through GoFundMe. Marion is a navy veteran who made ends meet by working at a Walmart in Cumberland, MD has retired thanks to the kindness of strangers. pic.twitter.com/hQs2FasnNo
— All Things DC MD VA (@TheDMVDaily) January 6, 2023
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‘This Is Just Unreal’
Marion had previously had a career with General Motors, but he retired to take care of his ex-wife’s husband until he passed away. He then took care of his ex-wife, but when she also died, Marion got a job with Walmart.
Last week, Marion was presented with a check for $108,000, which was how much had been raised for him at the time. In the days since then, that number has gone up to over $139,000 at the time of this writing.
Watch Marion get his check in the video below.
Marion said that he plans to use the money to pay his bills and then travel to visit his daughters and grandchildren in Florida, something he has not been able to do in many years. He also wants to take some time to relax at home, something he also has not been able to do in years.
“This is just unreal,” Marion told Fox5. “I feel like a new man. Bird out of a cage.”
With so much evil and negativity going around right now, it’s nice to see stories like this that remind us that there is still good in the world. We hope that Butch Marion enjoys his well-deserved retirement!