“Robert also kept a wide selection of harmonicas on hand,” Charles continued. “Not to play personally, but to prompt his beloved dogs to howl continuously at odd hours of the night to entertain his many neighbors.”
After Charles posted the comedic reflection of Robert’s life online, the obituary has soared to over one million views, according to Robertson Funeral Directors, the mortuary that performed the services for the Boehm family.
“Clarendon is a town of 2,000 people,” owner Chuck Robertson told The Washington Post. “I knew a lot of people would love it, but I was shocked when it really started to blow up.”
In response to all of laughs and visibility from strangers, Charles hopes that others will remember to take elder care seriously.
“If I want anything to come from all of this, it’s for people everywhere to support the mental health of people in little rural towns,” Charles shared. “They go there to retire, then when they’re old, their kids scatter and they end up alone. A lot of people slip through the cracks. There are people all over the country like my dad. We need to look after them.”
