Paul Douglas Boyles Jr.

Obituary for Paul Douglas Boyles, Jr.

Paul Douglas Boyles, Jr., 62, of Fredericksburg, VA, passed away at Mary Washington Hospital on Tuesday, November 1, 2022. Paul was born on May 19, 1960, in Winston-Salem, NC, the son of Dr. Paul Douglas Boyles and Frances (Elledge) Boyles and older brother to Carolyn and Benjamin Boyles.

Paul graduated from R.J. Reynolds High School, Class of 1978. As a youth, Paul developed keen interests for chess, camping with the Boy Scouts of America, science fiction novels, astronomy, and the musical sounds of the 1970s: interests that he continued to pursue throughout his life. Paul attended High Point University, graduating in 1982 with a BS in mathematics. Shortly after graduating college, Paul was commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force.

In February 1983, Paul met his wife, Laura Jane (King) Boyles (deceased 2020) at Bellville United Methodist Church in Illinois. During this time, Paul was serving as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and attending Parks College of St. Louis University for his second BS in Aerospace Engineering. Attending her very first church service, Laura sat next to Paul, and he was struck by the majesty of Laura’s singing voice, commenting that “it was like sitting next to an angel.” He invited her to Sunday school and eventually worked up the courage to ask Laura out, and thus began their courtship. They became engaged in June 1984 and married August 18, 1984, at Taylorville United Methodist Church.

When Paul, now a 1st Lieutenant, received new orders to Langley Air Force Base, Paul and Laura packed up and began their married lives by moving to Hampton, VA. There they welcomed their first child, Kathleen Marie, in February 1985 and their second child, Juliann Elizabeth, in March 1987. In April 1987, the family moved again to Dayton, OH, where Paul, now a Captain, was stationed at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In June 1989, Paul and Laura welcomed their third child, Matthew Douglas. During this time, Paul completed his masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering.

After Paul left the Air Force, the family moved to Manassas, VA, in February 1993. In April 1995, Laura and Paul welcomed their fourth child, Michael Keith. Paul and Laura raised their four children in Manassas and would live there as an integral part of the Manassas community for 27 years. While living in Manassas, Paul worked for the Federal Government as a Computer Specialist and Laura worked as a music teacher for Jennie Dean Elementary School. Both Paul and Laura retired from their respective careers in 2018 after 25 years of service. During this time, Paul also served an additional 10 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring after 20 years of service as a Lt. Colonel.

As a father of four active children, Paul spent whatever free time he had ferrying his children to dance and soccer practice, swim meets, boy scout meetings and camping trips, play practice, and endless concerts. Married to a music teacher and the father of four musically inclined children, Paul was an avid supporter of the arts and could be found in the audience of almost every one of his family’s concerts and musical theater productions. Although Paul would never consider himself a musician, describing himself only as a “fan,” the original musical stylings of Paul, for better or for worse, could be heard from the kitchen almost every time he would do the dishes or cook dinner, often accompanied by his infamous “dad” dance moves.

Paul sought any opportunity to get involved in his kids’ interests, particularly if they allowed him to reconnect with his own favorite childhood activities. So, when his oldest son Matthew joined the Boy Scouts, Paul cherished the opportunity to also become the Scoutmaster, planning and accompanying Matthew on as many merit badge adventures as possible with his full work schedule. Paul was one of the most active troop leaders in Manassas. Camping, backpacking, hiking, canoeing, archery, and scuba diving, Paul relished every opportunity to get outdoors with the scouts. Paul also served as Assistant Scoutmaster for his younger son Michael and most recently, his grandson Jayden.

After 25 years of working for the US Federal Government, which included managing the IT team for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon, Paul retired in May 2018. After the death of Paul’s beloved wife Laura of 35 years, Paul sold the family home in Manassas and moved to Fredericksburg in June 2020 to be closer to more of his grandkids. Once retired, Paul spent most of his time catching up on his favorite TV shows, participating in online chess tournaments, swimming at the YMCA, building his “collections” of puzzles and legos, “researching” on the internet, and going to Boy Scout meetings and camping trips with his oldest grandson Jayden. Most of all, Paul was proudest to be the beloved grandpa to his 6 grandchildren, and relished any opportunity to plan a family trip and bring everyone together, especially to his favorite vacation spot: the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Paul is survived by his daughters, Kathleen Boyles, Juliann Jones (Matthew); son, Matthew Boyles (Maria); his sister, Carolyn; brother, Benjamin (Gail); and grandchildren, Jayden, Venus, Benjamin, Lilian, Lydia, and Olivia.

Paul’s memorial service will be at Mullins and Thompson Funeral Home at 11am on Saturday, November 12, located at 1621 Emancipation Highway, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. A reception for all friends and family will follow. Please consider making a charitable donation to Appalachian Trail Conservancy to honor Paul’s love of the outdoors or the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank to honor Paul’s devotion to helping families in need. The family also welcomes flower donations. If possible, the family requests, for ease of delivery, the use of local Fredericksburg florists Thompson’s Westwood Florist or Flowers by Val.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mullinsthompsonfredericksburg.com for the Boyles family.