Boyce Franklin Farrar III

Boyce Franklin Farrar III, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away Friday, June 12, 2026. He was born on Christmas Day of 1937 in Dallas to Boyce Franklin Farrar Jr. and Phoebe Louise McCutcheon Farrar. He grew up in the Urbandale area and graduated in 1956 from Woodrow Wilson High School, where he was in the ROTC marching band and played trumpet, tuba, and sousaphone. A dedicated Boy Scout, he earned his Eagle Scout rank in Troop 553 and enjoyed telling about working a summer as a roving ranger at Philmont. He was proud to still receive an Eagle Scout anniversary congratulations email each year.

Boyce earned a Mechanical Engineering Degree from Southern Methodist University in 1962, after a year’s detour to Alaska, where he worked for the Corps of Engineers at Elmendorf Air Force Base. In 1958 he met Patricia Anne Linn at SMU, and that was a relationship that lasted through their 64th wedding anniversary this year. At SMU he was a loyal member of the Delta Chi fraternity and was still hosting get-togethers in 2025.

Instead of waiting for a draft notice, he attended Naval Officer Candidate School and then served as an Engineering Duty Officer on the USS Platte fleet oiler in the West Pacific during the Vietnam war, earning the qualification of Officer of the Deck, Underway. During this time, daughter Lisa joined the family. Transferred to the US Navy Marine Engineering Laboratory in Annapolis, he served as a project engineer in Submarine Safety Research conducting tests on nuclear submarine hulls, following the disastrous sinking of the USS Thresher. He was promoted to Lieutenant in May 1967.

After his Navy career, he worked on mechanical design and implementation of transportable communication systems for military agencies at Collins Radio in Richardson, Texas. During this time, daughter Michelle joined the family. Next, he became Assistant Director at the Dallas Convention Center, dealing with building equipment and picking up a master electrician license along the way.

Boyce developed independent careers and companies, always staying with engineering. Realty Services Company dealt with inspection and remodeling of residential properties, frequently in the Lakewood area. Then he started Property Engineers, Inc., which served commercial and multifamily properties all over the Metroplex and occasionally throughout Texas with building design, equipment specification, maintenance, and consulting for air conditioning, roofing, and foundation issues. His questions to those he worked with always were: “What do you need?” and “What can I help you with?” New needs always led to acquiring additional skills. He was a licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Energy Manager and actively maintained memberships in ASHRAE and AEE professional societies. He continued to keep current on industry regulations and technology and served clients until 2025.

Civic minded, he found time to serve as election precinct chairman for 14 years. He and Patricia also served as sponsors of two young adult Sunday School classes, and he served on the board at Highland Park United Methodist Church for a few years. He also served as president of the family cemetery association for almost 20 years.

Family was important to Boyce. He valued his roots as a 4th generation Texan and held close connections with cousins from across branches of the family. He enjoyed hosting gatherings for family and friends, especially on July 4th after the Lakewood parade.

Boyce loved the outdoors, whether camping, canoeing, sailing, gardening, or travel. He and Patricia took as many skiing trips to Colorado or New Mexico as could be fitted in, with family, friends and as a couple. They visited as many state and national parks as they could for hiking and camping and returned often to a favorite camping spot at Lake Ouachita in Arkansas. He shared that love of the outdoors with his daughters over many family camping trips and through participation in the YMCA Indian Princess program. Later he enjoyed canoeing and camping with his grandchildren.

Auto tinkering and do-it-yourself projects were favorite pastimes. The family home, for which he drew the plans, the backyard playhouse, the ipe wood deck, and the redwood canoe still serve the family. He could make or fix anything.

He also enjoyed dancing and music. He and Patricia participated in square dancing for years and attended music of many types: symphony, wind band, western, and Irish – becoming a 20-year volunteer for the North Texas Irish Festival. The last joke he laughed at was: How do you mend a broken tuba? With a tuba glue.

Boyce was preceded in death by his parents. His surviving family includes his wife Patricia, daughters Lisa (Brian), Michelle (Dwayne), grandchildren Duncan (Emily), Phoebe, Connor, Jason, sisters Sidney Anne and Jane (Mel), and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at Grove Hill Funeral Home, 3920 Samuell Blvd, Dallas, TX 75228 on June 26, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Smith Cemetery, 300 Smith Cemetery Rd, Waxahachie, TX 75165, on June 27, 2026, from 10:00 am to 10:30 am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice.

Drink a toast to me and read a good book