Shop helps stranded couple

By ANNE KAZMIERCZAK

anne@iolaregister.com

When Bud Folck and his wife Pepper drove in from their home in Toronto last Thursday, they expected a relaxed afternoon of Christmas shopping. Instead, car trouble that left them stranded reinforced Bud’s belief that Iolans are some of the finest folk around.

“I always though Iola was a fine little town,” said Bud, who retired from the radiology department of Allen County Hospital 21 years ago.

Folck had been having battery trouble for about a week, he said, needing to jump start his car to get it going each morning. Last Thursday was no exception, and he planned to buy a new battery while in Iola, he said.

But shortly after crossing the intersection of Madison and State streets, his 2002 Honda CRV died. Auto Zone, at 5 N. State St., lay just ahead.

Folck said workers from the store came out and pushed his vehicle into the parking lot. 

“They do sell batteries there,” Folck noted of the store, but did not have the one he wanted. “So they called their competition,” Iola Auto Parts, “and took me over there,” Folck said. 

The door-to-door service was just the start.

Folck purchased a battery at Iola Auto Parts, then the Auto Zone crew returned him — and it — to their lot, where they installed it for him, he said. 

Ready to go, Folck turned the key and — nothing. “The car still wouldn’t start,” he said. 

The Auto Zone crew spent about an hour trying to determine what was wrong. “They had three or four guys out there working on my car,” Folck said. 

When the car still wouldn’t start, the crew called a mechanic to come help. When none was found available, they called Folck’s neighbor on Toronto Lake to come fetch the couple.

While waiting, Pepper lamented her missed shopping opportunity.

An Auto Zone worker volunteered to drive her out to Walmart where she could shop while awaiting their ride, Folck said.

Meantime, Folck, remembering a mechanic he’d known all those years ago, wandered over to RB Auto at 301 S. Washington to see if Richard Burton could help.

“He grabbed some tools” and they returned to the stranded CRV.

“After about five minutes, he determined I’d put diesel in the car,” during a fuel stop in Yates Center, Folck said.

Burton had the car towed to his shop once the Folcks’ neighbor, George Poffinbarger, arrived to pick up the couple.

The next day, tank drained and refilled with unleaded, Folck got the call the car was ready to go.

Folck said he tried paying the crew at Auto Zone — John Ashworth, Chris Rhea and Andrew Reagen — for their efforts, “but they wouldn’t accept anything.”

On Wednesday, back in Iola for his wife’s doctor appointment, Folck decided he’d give the men “a whole variety of treats” from Renee’s Bakery as a thank-you.

“They all just did what they could to help,” Folck noted. “I just wanted them to know I appreciate it.” 

12.8.10