Big Tip: Widower Leaves The Bulk Of His Fortune To 17-Year-Old Waitress

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio - Widowed, childless and past 80, Bill Cruxton wanted his $500,000 fortune to make a difference in someone's life. A 17-year-old waitress who had been kind to him seemed the perfect choice.

When he died last month, he left the bulk of his estate to Cara Wood, the high-school senior who befriended him during the 13 months she worked part time at Dink's Restaurant.

Cora Bruck, Cruxton's 86-year-old sister and his only living relative, has challenged the will, which designated enough money to pay for her funeral. She says it doesn't represent his true intentions.

"Mr. Cruxton's longtime friends all agree this was not the same guy," said Mark Fishman, Bruck's attorney. "The Bill Cruxton that they knew was a very conservative and down-to-earth guy."

But employees and patrons at Dink's, a diner in this Cleveland suburb, knew Cruxton as a lonely man who appreciated the attention he got from Wood.

"Cara is just a good kid," said Dennis Zdolshek, co-owner of the restaurant. "She was just a typical junior in high school, yet she took the time to do things for Bill."

Cruxton's wife of 40 years, Gertrude, died of cancer in 1989. He soon became a regular at Dink's, eating lunch and dinner there every day. The employees and customers became his family. If he was late, Wood would call to see if he was OK.

"He knew that Cara's dad had died," said Maggie North, 18, a waitress at Dink's. "I think he felt like he was a father figure. I know he bought her some gifts and things."

Wood, a self-described tomboy whose greatest passion is playing soccer, quit the restaurant in September because of conflicts with her soccer team's schedule.

But she kept in touch with Cruxton, running errands for him and helping him around the house. Because of his poor eyesight, she helped him read his mail and pay his bills.

Cruxton, who was 82, died of a heart attack on Nov. 9. His estate included a $141,000 home, $200,000 in U.S. Treasury notes, $45,000 worth of jewelry, two cars, $21,000 in cash and assorted other valuables.

A previous will had named another Dink's waitress as the main beneficiary, but after she left for another job and lost touch with Cruxton, he drew up a new one.

He made no attempt to keep the will secret, often talking about it with his friends at Dink's. Zdolshek said everyone there knew that Cruxton's friendship with Wood was important to him, but was strictly that - friendship.

A hearing on Bruck's challenge in Cuyahoga County Probate Court is scheduled for February. She lives on Medicaid in a nursing home and the money "would assist her greatly in leading a comfortable lifestyle," Fishman said.

Meanwhile, Wood is making plans to go to college, regardless of whether she gets the money. She wants to major in business.