Lasting Memories

David E Boyd
Feb. 13, 1927-Jan. 9, 2020
Pleasanton, California

Our family’s most beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, David E. Boyd, passed away peacefully January 9, 2020, a few weeks prior to his 93rd birthday.    Born in Ohio, to Dorothy and Freeman Boyd, Dave was a proud veteran who left high school to serve in the Navy during WWII. Following his military service, Dave and his bride moved to Arizona where he worked at the Salt River Project. Later he changed careers, becoming a manufacturer’s representative for Spalding Corporation, selling sporting goods across the Western United States.    Known affectionately as Pop, Gramps, G-Pa, Poppa, and Pappy, Dave lived a full, vibrant life filled with love and protective loyalty for his family, friends, and community. Fueled by his innate optimism and persistence, Dave worked hard his entire life, often proclaiming proudly, “I’m a worker!” He took his first job shoveling snow for money at the age of seven. The last job he worked, until the age of 90, was as a golf course marshal, champion schmoozer, and golf aficionado at the Wente Vineyard Golf Course. Dave worked and lived independently until a year ago at his Pleasanton home of over 45 years.    A passionate sportsman, Dave loved to golf and fish with his buddies. He shared his love and knowledge for the game of golf by serving on the design committee for the Callippe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton. Dave taught his love of football to future generations, coaching 26 years of winning seasons for the Pleasanton Junior Football League (PJFL). Dave was also an active member of St. Clare’s Episcopal Church where he was regularly a featured choir soloist. He was a beloved member of the Pleasanton community.   Always immaculately dressed and ready to entertain with his quick wit, Dave shared his joie de vivre as a master of ceremonies, and prolific story and joke-teller, relating stories of his youth, his military service, and life during simpler times. One crowning-glory story was of a time in grade school when he and a friend fed a pig laxatives and left it overnight in a sour teacher’s classroom…he was ornery in his youth. He was ornery til the end.   David is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Boyd.