Robert "Bob" Edward Boyd

Robert Edward ”Bob” Boyd, 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and with love, at his home in Bella Vista on the morning of June 11, 2022. Born May 13, 1931 in Atkins Arkansas, the son of R. Ed and Odessa (Felton) Boyd, Bob was raised in Jacksonville, Arkansas where he lived a full and lively life on his parent’s rural farm. An only child, Bob was surrounded by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins – all of whom contributed to opportunities of adventure and mischief. Bob graduated as valedictorian from Jacksonville High School in the Class of 1949.

A degree in General Agriculture from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR followed in 1954. Upon his graduation, Bob enlisted in the Army and was eventually assigned to Kitzinger, Germany. “Clipboard Corporal” Boyd was assigned to work as a missile mechanic assembler on the Honest John, the first multiple nuclear warhead capable missile in production. Married in 1957 to the love of his life, Phyllis Eileen Millsap, they were transferred many places over the course of Bob’s 40-year career with the United States Department of Agriculture in the Plant/Pest Quarantine Division, which he truly loved. Stations in Staten Island, New York – Chicago, Illinois – St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands - Nogales, AZ and Baton Rouge, Louisiana were followed by his retirement in 1998 bringing them back to their home state of Arkansas. His intellectual curiousity and penchant for lifelong learning instigated extensive travels within the U.S and abroad to various countries in Europe, with his favorite being Holland, where he was appointed as the inspector in charge to ensure insect free tulip bulbs importation into the USA for all to enjoy. An avid gardener and skilled pool player, Bob enjoyed nothing more than a morning of yard work, followed by an afternoon at the Bentonville Senior Center where he was better known as “Bankshot Bob” by his treasured friends. A lifetime of completed crossword puzzles with an infinite knowledge of many subjects he deemed “trivia”, made him the daily winner at Jeopardy every evening, and the “go to guy” with most any inquiry. Bob is survived by his loving family - wife of 65 years, Phyllis M. Boyd; daughters, Valerie Joy Boyd (Baton Rouge, LA) and Kelley Sue Boyd (Bella Vista, AR); grandson, Austen Conner Boyd (Brooklyn, NY); and granddaughter, Parish Eileen Jarreau (Gastonia, North Carolina); additional beloved family includes in-laws, Harold Dean and Pat Millsap (Willis, TX) and James and Tracy Millsap (Pineville, MO) along with their respective children and the newest addition to the Boyd family – his grand puppy, Hopper. Visitation is Wednesday, June 15th from 5-7 pm, with a formal celebration of life ending at 8pm. Reverend Judy McMillian will be officiating. All services will be held at Callison-Lough Funeral Home in Bentonville. A Committal service, with Full Military Honors, will be held the following morning, June 16th, at 10:30 am in Fayetteville National Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Conner Boyd, Ed Bowen, Paul Knight, Lance Millsap, Jason Millsap and Doc Millsap with Honorary Pallbearers Harold Millsap and James Millsap. Our special thanks to Circle of Life Hospice and their staff for the compassionate and caring service they provided to us all during this difficult time.

Memorials are suggested, in his honor, to Circle of Life Hospice-Legacy Village, 901 Jones Road, Springdale, AR 72762 NWACircleOfLife.com or Bentonville Senior Center, 3501 SE L St, Bentonville, AR 72712 www.CallisonLoughFH.com