Ormel “Jack” Iverson Boyd
Ormel Iverson Boyd, resident of Lockhart since 1992, died April 27. He was born Oct. 6, 1923 to Thomas Jackson and Beulah Echo Spence Boyd near Chilton, in Falls County, Texas.
He retired after 33 years with the Farmers Home Administration (FmHA), USDA, and was Chief of the Business and Rural Development Program. His FmHA career included assistant County Supervisor at
Richmond, Texas and County Supervisor at Seguin, Texas. After moving to the state office in Temple he was awarded and recognized for his work with community leaders organizing and building water supply systems to serve rural communities in Texas. Prior to his FmHA career he taught vocational agriculture, beginning at Trent High School in Trent, Texas in 1947, and at Chillicothe High School and Waco University High School.
A veteran of WWII, he attended John Tarleton College and volunteered for the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps and was activated in June 1943. Starting in October of 1943 he attended Army Specialized Training Program engineering courses at East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. In March, 1944 he was assigned to Company B, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division and received advance training at Camp Maxey, Paris, Texas. He shipped to Europe in September 1944 and was on the front line serving as first scout in a Company B rifle squad with the 99th Infantry in December at the start of the Battle of the Bulge, Dec. 16, 1944. Wounded and captured he was a prisoner of war until April 29, 1945. His service awards include the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman”s Badge, rifle marksman, and two battle stars for the European-African-Middle East Campaign ribbon. A lifetime member of the VFW, American Legion, Military Order of the Purple Heart, DAV and Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, he also served as Commander of the Henry T. Rainey American Legion Post 41 in Lockhart and was active in the 99th Infantry Division Association.
Following his military service he received a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and a Master of Education degree from Texas A&M.
His civic activities included serving as a trustee of First United Methodist Church in Temple, Texas, and as elder and trustee at First Presbyterian Church in Lockhart, was a Lions Club member since 1962 and served as president of the Lockhart Lions. He was active in his support of Tarleton and Texas A&M as a Century Club and Silver Century Club member of the school”s alumni associations.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in 1978 by his wife Marjorie Pearl Beasley Boyd; and by a brother, Melvin Boyd, in 2005. He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Frances Schubert Bozarth Boyd of Lockhart; his sons and daughters-in-law, Don and Shirley of Georgetown and Alan and Carol of West Columbia; a granddaughter, Amanda Sheffield and her husband John of Houston; grandsons Michael of Georgetown and Tim, Ben, Zack and Nathan of West Columbia; and a great-granddaughter and great-grandson, Chastidy and Logan Sheffield of Houston. He is also survived by his sister Geneva and her husband Charles of Austin; brother Nolan and his wife Willie of McGregor; sister Ruth Nicholson and her husband John of Pinetops, N.C.; and brother Leland and his wife Nadine of Amarillo. Other survivors of his extended family are Nell and James Sanchez of Austin; Betsy and Ronnie McKean of New Braunfels; Ray Bozarth, Jr. of Houston; and step-grandchildren Kelly McKean, Kathy and Corey Westbrook of Kyle, Ray Bozarth, III of Brenham and Travis Bozarth of Houston. He will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews and many other treasured family and friends.
Visitation was held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday evening, May 1. A celebration memorial service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2 at First Presbyterian Church in Lockhart with the Rev. Joe Turner officiating, assisted by the Rev. Terry Bozarththe Rev. Mark Stoub. Pallbearers were his grandsons Michael Boyd, Tim Boyd, Ben Boyd, Zack Boyd, Nathan Boyd and his nephew Mike Boyd.
Interment and graveside services followed at 3:30 p.m. at Union Cemetery, near Durango in Falls County. The family requests memorials to First Presbyterian Church/in Lockhart, to the American Heart Association or to a charity of the donor”s choice. Eeds Funeral Home in Lockhart was in charge of arrangements.
