George Darwin Boyd Sr.

Darwin grew up in Denver and attended West High School where he played flute in the school band. After graduation, Darwin moved to Aspen and worked on the ski slopes.

Moving to Aspen turned out to be a pivotal point in Darwin’s life. One evening, while ice skating with friends at the Aspen Skating Rink, he spied Cleta Varner. Cleta caught his eye, and he spent the next several days looking all over Aspen for her. It was meant to be!

Darwin, 20, and Cleta, 19, chose to be married on July 4, 1959, a Saturday they were both off work. Children started arriving the following year. Michelle was born in 1960, Anna Lisa in 1963, and George Darwin II in 1965.

Darwin worked hard to support his family. All of his children were in band or orchestra, and he never missed a performance. He volunteered to be a chaperone with the Westminster High School Marching Band, as they traveled to New Orleans to march in a Mardi Gras parade. He had guts to corral a bunch of teens on a 7-day bus trip.

Darwin was a cat man; his favorite cat was a black and white cat named Midge. He also had a favorite bird, Doris the African Grey parrot. He and Doris watched TV and ate popcorn together.

Darwin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2000, at the age of 60. He died from the disease on January 1, 2020, at the Malley Transitional Care Center in Thornton, Colorado.

Darwin is survived by Cleta, his wife of 60 years. He is also survived by his children Michelle, Anna Lisa, and George, as well as his much-loved grandson, Geoff.

Services are 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 11, in the Chapel at Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary and Cemetery, 7777 W. 29th Ave., Wheat Ridge, Colorado.