Colonel Boyd

Kerrville, Texas Colonel U.S. Army, Retired William M. F. Boyd died of natural causes early on Sunday morning, August 31, 2003, in Kerrville, Texas. He had recently celebrated both his 94th birthday and his 60th wedding anniversary to his bride for life, Mrs. Mary Ida Boyd. Mrs. Boyd preceded Colonel Boyd into the joys of eternal life by just 28 days. Bill Boyd was born in Louin, Mississippi, on June 29, 1909, where he went to school and helped to work his familys rural farm. The second of four children, he excelled in both academic studies and sports, having been awarded the Most Valuable Player trophy on the Pearl River Junior College mens basketball team. He would later continue his studies at Tulane University and begin his first career with the Commercial Credit Corporation in Jackson, Mississippi. He entered military service at the beginning of World War II and served with the 9th U.S. Army Air Force in England. After WWII, he would see additional wartime service in Korea after which he would decide to make the military his career. That career would carry Colonel Boyd to various assignments in the United States, including the Pentagon and Ft Bragg, N.C. He and his family would also serve additional overseas assignments in Japan and Germany, where he commanded the 10th U.S. Army Transportation Group in Stuttgart. After 27 years of military service Colonel Boyd retired from the Army at the rank of Colonel in his last assignment as Chief of Staff, U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command, St Louis, Missouri. His numerous awards and decorations included the Bronze Star, the United Nations Forces Korean Expeditionary Medal, and the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service to his country. For an additional 11 years after that, Bill Boyd would work as a leader in aviation logistics with the Bell Helicopter Corporation in Hurst, Texas. He would continue to actively serve his Lord and Savior as an adult Sunday School teacher at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Ft Worth. After completing his third career, Colonel Boyd retired in McAllen, Texas, where he and Mary were active with the local Gideon camp placing Gideon Bibles through Northern Mexico and South Texas. Bill and Mary Boyd made their final retirement in Kerrville, Texas, in 1992, where he continued his activities as a Gideon and as a member of the Kerrville Kiwanis Club. Colonel Boyd is survived by his loving sister, Mrs. Juel Hood, of Starkville, Mississippi his son, Colonel U.S. Army, Retired Michael Boyd, and his wife Deborah of Huntsville, Alabama three daughters, Mrs. Mary Ann Fine and her husband, Jerry of Austin, Texas Mrs. Barbara Hurd and her husband Ron of Kila, Montana Valerie Boyd Overall and her husband Doug, of Arvada, Colorado four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Funeral services for Colonel Boyd will be Wednesday, September 3, 2003 at 11 AM at the Kerrville Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Doug Overall officiating. Interment will be Thursday, September 4, 2003 at 10:30 AM at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas. Family visitation is scheduled for Tuesday, September 2, 2003 from 6 8 PM at the Funeral Home.In lieu of floral tributes, the family suggests memorials be made to Vista Care Hospice, the Gideons International, or a charity of choice.Arrangements are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home.

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