More than 1,000 pay tribute to shopkeeper
More than 1,000 people have paid tribute to a Black Country shopkeeper who died suddenly of a heart attack.
Grandfather-of-nine Kashmir Singh Virk run the family store Virk Wines, in Sedgley, for 23 years and was well known in the town.
Today, his family said they were overwhelmed by the support from the community with people laying flowers outside the shop.
Dozens of bouquets have now been left and a tribute page has been set up on website Facebook. The RIP Virk webpage now has 1,155 likes from well wishers with comments paying tribute to the cheery businessman.
Mr Virk's funeral takes place tomorrow with the cortege passing the shop in Dudley Street ahead of the ceremony. The funeral car will pause outside the shop to pay respect to the popular shopkeeper at around 9am on the day.
It will then continue to the family home in Darlaston before going onto Sandwell Valley Crematorium, in Newton Road, Great Barr, for an 11am service.
Mr Virk collapsed on Thursday and died shortly afterwards at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital.
His son Taz Virk said the family was grateful for all the support shown by the community as they come to terms with their grief. "The whole family including myself wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has given us support, we are so overwhelmed by their generosity," said the 35-year-old bus driver.
"We are grateful to the love being shown to our father and we want to carry on his legacy in the future.
"Dad would have been very, very proud to know that he was so appreciated by the community."
Mr Virk was married to wife Balwant Kaur for 43 years. He had two daughters and two sons.
He used to live in Tipton but later moved to Darlaston.
