Edward J Boyle

Born July 22, 1924 in Forty Fort, Pennsylvania, he was the son, and last surviving child, of the late Thomas J. and Elizabeth (O’Malley) Boyle. Ed was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over 43 years, Arline J. Boyle. In addition to his wife, Ed was preceded in death by his four older sisters, Elizabeth (Betty) Gallagher, Alice Shutts, Mary Rose Sloan, and Patricia (Pat) Kelly. He was also preceded in death by an older brother, T. Joseph Boyle, Jr.

Surviving are eighteen nieces and nephews, all of whom he considered as though they were his children. Although born and raised in the Wyoming Valley of northeastern Pennsylvania, Ed spent the last fifty-four years of his life in Harrisburg. In his later years, his comfort, care and needs were attended to by his nephew and niece-in-law, Kenneth and Linda Shutts, of Harrisburg, as well as by a niece, Christine Grove of Harrisburg.

In the Wilkes-Barre area, Ed’s nieces and nephews are: Patricia (Gallagher) Smaka, John Gallagher, Eileen Gallagher, Paul Gallagher, Ann (Gallagher) Dugan, Maureen (Sloan) Mikus, and Mary Pat (Sloan) Connell. His other nieces and nephews are spread out in many parts of the country. They are: William Kelly (Tallahassee, Florida), Joseph Kelly (Colonial Beach, Virginia), Jack Sloan (South Windsor, Connecticut), Michael Sloan (Dallas, Texas), Thomas Boyle (Phoenix, Arizona), Cornelia Boyle (Koloa, Hawaii), Robert Boyle (Kingston, Massachusetts), Michael Boyle (Hingham, Massachusetts), and Patrick Boyle (Middleboro, Massachusetts).

Edward was a graduate of the Forty Fort High School (Class of 1943), and after graduating attended the Wyoming Seminary Business School. He was a U.S. Army veteran, stationed at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland in the mid to late 1940’s. After service to his country ended, Ed was employed by the Pennsylvania State Police, initially in Wilkes-Barre, and then at State Police Headquarters in Harrisburg. Ed retired as Director of Purchasing and Procurement for the Pennsylvania State Police, after a career with the PSP spanning thirty-three years.

Edward was a fifty year member of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Catholic Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He also served for several years as President of the Irish Heritage Society of Central Pennsylvania.

A visitation and viewing will be held in Harrisburg on the evening of Thursday, December 1, 2022, between the hours of 5:00 and 7:00 pm, at the Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry Street, Harrisburg. A solemn funeral mass will be celebrated the following day, Friday, December 2, 2022, at 12:00 noon, at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, 339 N. Maple Avenue, Kingston, Pennsylvania. Immediately following the Mass, burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1594 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to organizations that were central to Ed’s devoutly spiritual life, the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Attn: Ms. Maida Connor, Mother Seton Shrine, 339 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, Maryland, 21727-9297; or to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (“Bringing Healing and Hope Across the World”) Attn: Father David P. Uribe, OMI, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, 323 Oblate Drive, San Antonio, Texas, 78216-6629.

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