William Charles Boyd, aged 85, passed away peacefully on September 20, 2026. Bill spent his last days surrounded by the love and comfort of his family in his home in Northville. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Bill touched the lives of many with his sly smile, sense of humor, commitment to hard work, and unwavering sense of right and wrong.
Born on April 26, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, Bill was the eldest son of Charles and Irene Boyd. He graduated from the University of Michigan and went on to work at Ford Motor Company for nearly four decades.
Bill devoted his leisure time to competition. Over the years he was active in many leagues including softball, ping pong, bowling, and golf. His greatest success outside of family and work came when he discovered running. He began running in the late 1970’s and by 1985 he was named Michigan Runner Magazine’s Male Runner of the Year. Bill competed in races from the 5k up to the marathon. He was the Free Press Marathon Masters Champion in 1985 and 1986. Later in life he devoted time to travel with his beloved wife of 26 years, Robyn (Frankowicz) Boyd.
Bill is survived by his wife Robyn, his four children, Rebecca Tennis (and her husband Robert), William Boyd (and his wife Kelly), Brenda Aulinskis (and her husband Dean), and Bryan Boyd (and his wife Carrie); and his eleven cherished grandchildren: Alexis, Ryan, Samantha, Autumn, Brandon (and his wife Molly), Sydney, Macy, Brennan, Grace, Camden, and Easton.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Irene, and his brother, Kenneth (and his wife Margaret).
Bill will be fondly remembered for his devotion to family, dedication to friends, and commitment to excellence.
Family and friends are invited to gather in remembrance and celebration of Bill's life.
Visitation, Wednesday September 23, 2026 from 4-8pm at Harry J Will Funeral Home: 37000 Six Mile Rd., Livonia, MI 48152.
Funeral service, Thursday September 24, 2026 at 11am (visitation to begin at 10am) also at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in memory of William Boyd to Project Purple or to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help them achieve their goal of a world without Pancreatic Cancer.
