Honor the life of a good man

Re “Two fatally shot in Vernon,” May 18

There’s something special about “a woodworker’s heaven” called Bohnhoff Lumber. In this big-box retail world, I’m not used to the family feeling inspired by a father, son and grandson who all worked together.

When I went to pick up my wood recently, my order was waiting, neatly wrapped with my name on it. The owner, Alan Bohnhoff, loaded it onto my car and tied it down. He stood in the street to make sure I backed out safely.

There’s something special about that lumberyard, I told my husband. The people there remembered my name, the owner personally handles orders, and animals follow him around the place.

Bohnhoff was killed last week.

The Times focused on the violence that occurred that day and concluded with “the victims were lumberyard employees.”

Bohnhoff’s life cannot be summed up so simply. It’s easy to focus on the horrific violence of a moment, but to undervalue a man of integrity, honesty, family values and hard work is a loss to all of us. Amid the attention we give celebrities, we should also honor the lives of regular people who offer simple gestures of kindness every day.

Tiprin Follett

Pasadena