James R. Boyd

All of our thoughts and prayers to the entire family. Deda was a wonderful man.

Anyone who has ever met my deda knows what an amazing man he truly was. As hard as it is for me to imagine my life without my deda, I know that he would be very upset if he knew i was “makin a fuss” over him. He would tell me “Dry your eyes kid, im going to be fine”. I love my deda very much and will miss him everyday. Manny I love you very much, keep your head up, I know we’re going to get through this. Deda loved you and us so much, and we have so many great memories to share together! And remember, NO, you can’t have a banana until you ask Manny first, and do not put the powder in one spot!!! MamMa I love you so much. This is a very sad time in our lives. I just want you to know that I am always there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to talk to. I am even willing to look at your scar! -Pat Jr. Mom I know how much your deda meant to you. He was your everything, your shoulder when you needed to cry, a laugh when you needed a smile and, the best advice you could ever find. I want you to know that your deda is always going to be with you. I love you. Patty Andrew, Kyle, Kelly We have made it through everything together. We will get through this as well. Nothing could ever replace our Deda, but we have a million memories to keep forever!

Pat, In the next few days, weeks and months to come, don’t be afraid to remember the good times. Deda will come into your thoughts when you least expect it…let yourself smile and remember all the good times shared together. I remember all of the stories through the years of holiday celebrations, vacations, dance recitals for the girls, cookouts, etc. And always included in these stories were Manny and Deda. He must have loved you very much. Some people will tell you what a tragedy it is for him to be taken away…I think the biggest tragedy would be to have never had him in your life at all. My prayers are with you.

Mrs. Boyd–I have some very fond memories and you and Mr. Boyd. I went to business school with your granddaughter Janet and we would stop by sometimes during our lunch break. You both were always very kind to me. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time.

Janet, We always think that if we have enough time to prepare for the loss of someone that we love, that somehow it will be easier to accept when the time finally comes to let go…how stupid we are! How could we expect to prepare to lose someone who has been such an important part of our lives since the moment that we were born? The answer is simple…we can’t. I know how much Deda meant to you and you will miss him every day for the rest of your life. But, in time, it will get better. And just remember, from now on, when you succeed at something, Deda will be up in heaven cheering you on; and when you fail at something, he will be there to help pick you up; and when you do something really stupid, he will be there to laugh at you. Some things are forever…. I wish that I could be there with you and your family. The next few days will be difficult, but you will get through them together. Just know that I am only a phone call away if you need me.

To most of his colleagues, he was Jim, to Mrs. Boyd he was Bob, to the grandkids and great grandkids he was Deda, to me he was Mr. Boyd. To all of us he was very special. He was my father-in-law for some 17 years before I made a bitter decision that removed me as an immediate family member. But even after that I felt that I had good relationship with him, though certainly not ever as close as before. If he was bitter, he (and the family) was good enough that it wasn’t apparent to me — Mr. Boyd was still Mr. Boyd. I remember when I was still a teenager, Mr. Boyd letting me overhaul the motor in Pat’s Nash Metropolitan in the back yard at Walker Circle. The car ran worse afterwards, but it was okay with Mr. Boyd. I remember too years ago we were riding with the family and Mr. Boyd driving out somewhere in the counties far west of Vienna. I happened to glimpse a deer in a field off the road. I said something, Mr. Boyd then made a U-turn on a busy U.S. two-lane highway so all could see the deer (this was before deer became urbanized, so sightings were rare!). This was a small thing, but he cared enough to satisfy my curiosity and to me it typifies the man in all of his actions toward me and all others. My recent lasting memories of him are at Christmas in his chair — the recliner / easy chair at Janet’s house. I always enjoyed and will always remember seeing him there, usually sporting some bright, usually red tie, vest or other garment for the season. He was a very special man that will forever be remembered to each of us, family and non-family, in our own special way. With deepest sympathy, especially to Mrs. Boyd, Pat and Jan Arnold Funk

Deda was a wonderful man and will be missed greatly. Our thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of you.

We are saddened to have lost the patriarch of our extended family. Cliff has known 5 generations of the Boyd family beginning with Jim’s mother. Mrs. Boyd was the switchboard operator at Aston Park Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina where Cliff’s aunt was the hospital’s administrator. Jim Boyd at that time was a radio engineer at WWNC in Asheville. Years later, half way around the world, we became reacquainted with Pat and her family while living in Australia. We have been “family” ever since. “Deda” will be sadly missed but fondly remembered. Cliff and Sue Mashburn Brevard, North Carolina _____________________ You can shed tears that he is gone or you can smile because he has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he’ll come back or you can open your eyes and see all he’s left. Your heart can be empty because you can’t see him or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he’s gone or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what he’d want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Anonymous

I have many fond memories of Deda from when I was growing up, but there’s one in particular that has always stuck out prominently in my mind. I was probably around 7 or 8 years old at the time and the families had all meant over at Manny and Deda’s house for a special occasion (I can’t remember exactly what it was). Well, after the festivities were over and the night was winding down Deda thought it would be the perfect time to make me a proposition. Yes, for the one lump sum payment of 25 cents I had to run out the back door through the backyard, in the pitch dark mind you, around the shed and back into the house. Well, we haggled over price for a bit because I thought I was being severely underpaid for the top notch entertainment value that I was bringing to the table. Unfortunately for me, Deda was a shrewd and savvy businessman and I couldn’t get him to budge on the price. In the end we couldn’t come to an agreement and I never did run around that old shed. I don’t know what amuses me more about that memory – the fact that Deda, who was probably in his 60s at the time, got pure enjoyment out of haggling over a price with an 8 year old boy or the fact that both of us knew that in the end, no matter what he would have offered me, there was no change ‘on God’s green earth’ that I was going to run around that old creepy shed in the middle of the night. Thanks for the memories Deda, you will be missed by many.

Daddy, I know I had given instructions that you and mother didn’t have the option to leave us. Since you had to go, I want you to know how much you are loved. You slipped away with no pain. Your Hospice nurses were such a blessing to our family. Please watch down on Mother from heaven because she will need you and we will do our very best to take care of her down here ! I know you want us to move on with our lives, but it will be a long journey returning to somewhat of a normal life. Life without you will never be normal. I love you and already miss you so much that I feel selfish. You are in a wonderful place and I hope I will see you there one day ! I can only pray that I will have good full life just like you have. Your service was beautiful, I’ll stop by offen to see you down here. Love & Kisses, Pat PS David sends his love.

Bob was always special to me…a big brother since I was twelve. He was my first “BYPU” teacher in Asheville and then, part of our family for almost 70 years. Bob did many special things for my family and me. On every visit to their home he always had wonderful plans for us..especially after they moved to Washington. We saw it all..and surrounding areas such as Williamsburg, Amish Country, Mt. Vernon, the Smithsonion and more. On a trip home from Jan’s, he surprised me with a visit to the Arch in St. Louis and a ski-lift trip in the Kentucky mountains. So much more but space is limited. Bob tried to explain how a ship goes through the locks in a canal and I never did “get it” and got exasperated with me…Mother always said I had “book sense” but we were still working on the “common”! We will miss him..life will not be the same without him. Geraldine and all my family.

Deda, It’s hard to put into words what you mean to this family. I have many wonderful memories of vacations, camping trips, holidays, and birthdays just to name a few. I was lucky enough to know you for 30 years, and be a member of your family for over 22 years. You always treated me just like your own grand daughter and I have to say the feeling went both ways. I always considered you like my own grandfather. I am also so thankful that Andrew and Kyle had you in their lives as their great grandfather, well into their teens. I don’t think I ever heard a mean word come out of your mouth, unless, of course, you were calling Gary a name, which he most likely deserved! I promise to occasionally call him “Stupe” in your honor. I will truly miss our conversations about the Redskins and racing, but will miss you even more. Love Wendy

The sorrow of the faithful is not that of permanent loss, but the tender sense of sadness that comes in saying good-bye for now to someone we love. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Deda, I can’t believe this day has come. How can I even begin to put 41 years of our memories into words. As far back as I can remember, you were there with me. I want to say thank you for the millions of smiles and laughs you gave to me during your lifetime, with no tears ever, until now. Thanks for Christmas hams carved with precision, my straight teeth, shopping with me for my prom dress, even when Manny and Mom thought we couldn’t handle it! For ALWAYS saying no first, even when you meant yes. For Snoopy’s homeade doghouse, taking such good care of Puff when we couldn’t, walking through your woods and learning not to be afraid of the dark. The first tent that you gave to Mom and Dad, which eventually led me to one of my true loves in life, camping. Driving to Ocracoke, N.C each summer to see us, the Pony Island Motel, the Trolley, and jumping your Pontiac over the sand dune and not thinking it was strange to be doing so. Surviving the driving lessons with me and Gary,(ESPECIALLY GARY!) and endless tanks of gas. Feeding lunch to the student body of the Washington Business School, and being so nice to us all, even though our lunch hour was the same exact time as the Young and the Restless. Giving me away on my wedding day, loving Danny as though he was your grandson, being there when I had my own babies, and becoming the first ever “Honorary Stage Door Dance Grandpa”. For driving 2 hours to see a 5 minute elementary school program, that Patty and Kelly insisted you and Manny attend! For never missing the “first day of school” picture you took of the girls when they got off their bus. And most of all, for always loving me and being proud of me! You are such a big part of the wife, mother and woman that I am today and I love you for that. Deda, know I will do everything possible to take care of Manny and help her to be happy again. God Bless you Deda. I love you and will miss you forever.

I was fortunate enough to be DeDa’s son-in-law for 38 years. What a great guy!! My best memories are the many car trips we made together. He loved to travel and to take the back roads as much as Jan and Manny would allow. Thanks for all the memories DeDa. We miss you greatly.

We at VOA have just learned of Jim’s death on April 23rd.A few of us old-timers still working here remember Jim with good thoughts and memories of his pleasant personality,high technical competance, his willing, sharing spirit, and the great garden produce he would bring in. He will be missed at the Retirees Luncheon in September, but some of us hope to see Doris on Sept. 13. Our thoughts and prayers follow for the surviving family.