William Compton Boyd

Bill grew up near all his uncles and cousins on his father’s side and they loved getting in to mischief!

After graduating from Isaac Linton High School in Nashville, he signed up for the Navy at age 18. He was assigned to the Great Lakes Naval Station where he also participated in the Blue Jacket Choir. He then was assigned to Pearl Harbor to help process returning naval personnel back home. Once he returned home, he went to work as a billing clerk for Southeast Motor Freight in Nashville where a lovely young lady in bookkeeping named Marjorie caught his eye. One day he stuck his head through the window to the bookkeeping department and Miss Marjorie gave him a wink at which point he promptly smacked his head on the window frame in surprise! You could say he truly was smitten. In December 1947 they went on their first date and in April 1948 they got married. Their love story together lasted 67 years.

After getting married, Bill and Marge moved to St. Louis. The company promoted Bill into a manager training program where they placed him as a terminal manager at a different location every five years. The first move was to Evansville, Indiana where their first child, Zeta Lois Russell was born. From there they moved to Paris, Tennessee where their second child, Wilma Ruth Boyd was born. They were transferred back to St. Louis. Later, Bill was promoted to the main office in Lubbock, Texas. After the company closed, Bill’s working colleagues helped him find work in San Antonio.

Bill grew up in a singing family. His father and uncles sang as a gospel quartet on the radio in Nashville, and Bill at about age 5 also sang on the radio occasionally. Bill loved to sing. He also loved to lead singing. Back in the day, when gospel meetings ran two weeks, a preacher would bring his own song leader with him. Starting at age 16, Bill was asked to accompany preachers as their song leader during their meetings. Bill led singing from age 16 to his mid-eighties.

Bill also served as a deacon at Glendale church of Christ in St. Louis, and as an elder at Southside church of Christ in Lubbock and Northern Oaks in San Antonio. He attended North Hills and then Garden Ridge church of Christ for the last 10 years of his life. He also taught Bible class for years.

Bill loved woodworking, making gifts and unique pieces tailored to the unusual dimensions for a project. He was also a skilled stained glass worker, selling some of his pieces at a store at La Villita on the Riverfront. He was a photographer, furniture reupholster and wood refinisher. He loved doing things with his hands. He had a ready laugh and easy smile.

And above all, he loved Jesus. Singing was his outlet for expressing that love. His unwavering faith even in difficult circumstances taught us how to navigate hard times with grace. We will so miss him.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marjorie Frances Hime Boyd, his parents, Thomas Brantley Boyd and Lucy Neal Compton Boyd and brother, Thomas Brantley Boyd, Jr. He is survived by his two daughters Zeta Lois Boyd Russell and Wilma Ruth Boyd, niece Ann Boyd Armstrong, and nephews Thomas Preston Boyd and William Ross Boyd as well as many friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to Hands of Compassion, a ministry offering free housing for those going to the Mayo Clinic. Hocrochester.com. 507-289-6025