Harlen H. Boggs

Harlen was born in Roane County, West Virginia, Nov. 28, 1928 to Howard and Ruby Sheppard Boggs. He and his father managed/owned a dairy farm in W.Va. until 1955 (excluding his ‘Army Days’, 1951-1953). They farmed in Fairplain and Roundknob, W.Va. until moving the herd to Charlotte, NC. for a ‘better’ milk price.

While stationed in Leesville, Louisiana in the Army, Harlen sent for his sweetheart, Betty Lou Atkinson (Reedy, W.Va.). They were married upon her arrival, April 7th, 1951 and celebrated 60 years of marriage this year.

He and Betty had three daughters who learned ‘farm work’ at a very young age on the 300 acre farm. He taught them how to ride horses, herd cattle, drive a tractor, and care for animals.

Harlen managed this acreage first as a dairy farm and later as a flower nursery, raising beef cattle as a hobby. He later was employed as a supervisor for Charlotte’s Parks and Recreation/Landscape Division. He retired from that position in 1989.

Daddy taught by example and expected his daughters to learn everything he knew – but more quickly. He was a hard worker all his life, usually working from sunrise to sunset in the field and if it were raining, he worked in the barn/workshop on equipment repairs or projects.

As age slowed his body, he ‘cut down’ to 50 head of cattle so less hay and soybeans for feeding were needed. This shortened his ‘field time’, so he became an avid tomato growing expert, raising enough for family and friends. Other ‘spare time’ projects included building blue bird houses, cedar bird feeders and making many family members a cedar hope chest which he planed by hand from timber on the farm.

He was a ‘farmer friendly’ man, assisting young farmers by sharing not only his wisdom and knowledge about farming but his equipment and skills.

Harlen ‘wore’ his Christian faith by the way he lived. He never met a stranger, helped those in need, and cared for his family with diligence. He will be greatly missed. It is our loss but Heaven’s gain. He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard and Ruby Sheppard Boggs, brothers Daris and Mack, and niece Linda.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Boggs, and three daughters; Sandy Ricks and husband, Dr. Bob Ricks of Liberty, Cindy Lackey and husband Dr. John Lackey of Burlington, Vickie Moore and husband Dr. Pat Moore of South Carolina; five grandchildren, Matthew Williams, wife Jessica and their son Wyatt Harlen, Meredith Carias, husband Jason, and their daughters Sky Marie and Melody Grace, Stephen Ricks, Ashley Ricks, and Daniel Moore; three step-grandchildren, Suzanna Nguyen and husband Mike and children Ryan, Sarah, and Sophia, David Moore and wife Brittany, and Karen Moore. In addition living survivors include one sibling Elah Starcher, Charleston W.Va.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Doris Jean Cline, Sharon and Frank Wine, Daris and Georgie Atkinson, all of Spencer, W.Va. along with multiple nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Monday evening, July 11th from 6 until 8 PM at Loflin Funeral Home, Liberty, N.C. A private family service will be held for Mr. Boggs at a later date.

Please share your thoughts and memories with the family at www.LoflinFH.com.

Loflin Funeral Home of Liberty has the honor of serving The Boggs Family.