William "Bill" Frank Boyden's Obituary
William Frank "Bill" Boyden, 86, of New Haven, passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024, at Parkview Hospital Randallia, Fort Wayne. Born in Susquehanna, Penn., he was the son of the late Francis and Edris (Wheeler) Boyden. Bill was a faithful church member, most recently of Lifeway Wesleyan Church, Fort Wayne. For decades, every Sunday would find him ushering and singing in the church choir - or acting as a greeter if he wasn't. For as many years Bill was involved in Sunday school, teaching high schoolers through adults, and continued as a faithful Sunday school class member at Lifeway through his eighties. His faith was greatly influenced by his grandmother, who wrote, "Billy was born March 11th, 1937, and born-again May 1947."
Bill started his work life as a telephone systems installer. He later worked for Bendix and Conn instruments in research as an electronics technician. But much of his career was at General Telephone, GTE, traveling city to city installing new telephone systems. Working his way up into management, Bill retired after many years as a telecommunications trainer.
Bill met his wife of 42 years, Mary Lu, when she was a telephone operator, while he was in town to replace a telephone system. He loved visiting her at her second job at the Dairy Queen, where he'd often get an extra scoop.
In his home life, Bill loved spending time with his kids and grandkids, swimming and playing tennis and pickleball at Jury Park and going to DQ and Zesto afterwards for ice cream.
Bill was an avid fisherman, fishing in Michigan, Minnesota, and Canada. But most times you'd find him fishing on Long Lake at his father-in-law Lee's cottage and the "Broken B" ranch, his son Andy and wife Geralyn's farmer's pond.
Bill enjoyed hiking in the national parks with his kids and grandkids, from the Appalachians to Rocky Mountain National Park and Yosemite. His favorite place in nature was Glacier National Park, a wild place he took refuge in, and his main stop in a solo trip across the West after Mary Lu passed away from cancer in 1999. He returned again and again to Glacier, hiking the mountainous trails among the moose, elk, and grizzly bears, even at age 83.
After Mary Lu passed in 1999, Bill wintered at the Rambler's Rest Resort in Florida, where he later met Shirley Foster. Bill and Shirley enjoyed each other's company, traveling to the national parks, biking, and taking in sunsets on the beach, and countless cruises, from Alaska to the Caribbean for over 20 years.
He is survived by his children, Mike (Debbie) Boyden, Andy (Geralyn) Boyden, Jamie (Teri) Boyden, and Jodi (Mark) Matthias; siblings, Margie Carr, Jim (Carolyn) Boyden and Eva Anne Short; and nine grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Bob Boyden.
Funeral service is 2 pm Saturday, February 3, 2024, at Harper's Community Funeral Home, 740 St. Rd. 930 E., New Haven with visitation two hours prior (Noon to 2 pm). The funeral will be LIVE STREAMED at https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/william-frank-boyden-funeral-service. Inurnment in IOOF Cemetery, New Haven. Preferred memorials to Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities or Lifeway Wesleyan Church. For online condolences please visit www.harperfuneralhome.com
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