Lonnie Dench, Who Invited a Stranger to Thanksgiving Dinner, Dies of COVID-19

Jake Smith
·2 min read
Photo credit: Jamal Hinton
Photo credit: Jamal Hinton

From Prevention

Lonnie Dench, the husband of a woman who accidentally invited a stranger to Thanksgiving dinner in a viral tweet, has passed away due to complications from COVID-19 and pneumonia. Now, tributes are pouring in for Lonnie, memorializing both his kindness and his ongoing, stranger-than-fiction friendship with that very stranger.

Back in 2016, one mistaken text launched the heartwarming story of Jamal Hinton and Wanda and Lonnie Dench to international fame. Wanda, thinking she was texting her grandson, invited Hinton to her family's holiday get-together in Phoenix. When Hinton revealed she had the wrong number, he asked if he could still stop by. Wanda's response? "Of course you can."

When Hinton posted the conversation on Twitter, he went viral almost instantly. Much to the delight of social media, Wanda and Lonnie have hosted Hinton and his family every year since, at four Thanksgiving dinners. Hinton, Wanda, and Lonnie posed for pictures during every visit, sharing their evolving story with hundreds of thousands of fans. In a way, the Dench family invited the whole internet into their home, proving the value of kindness in an increasingly divisive world.

Lonnie Dench passed away this past Sunday, succumbing to a virus that has already taken the lives of nearly 15,000 Americans. The news is hitting home for many, especially those who have followed the inspiring story since 2016. Hinton had previously revealed that both Lonnie and Wanda had been diagnosed with COVID-19, asking for his followers to send words of encouragement. According to Hinton, Wanda has recovered from the virus.

"Lonnie did not make it," Hinton tweeted. "But Wanda told me all the love and support he was receiving put a huge smile on his face, so I thank every single one of you guys for that."

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