M/SGT (E-8) Henry “Hank” Joseph Boyd, US Army, Retired, 98, of Kansas City, Kansas passed away February 10, 2022. A service for Hank will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Chapel Hill-Butler Funeral Home, 701 N. 94th St., Kansas City, Kansas. Graveside services will be immediately following in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. A gathering of family and friends will be held from 1:00-2:00 pm, also at the chapel.
Hank was born in Manhattan, New York on February 13, 1923 and raised in Mount Loretto Orphanage, Staten Island, New York. After he aged out of the orphanage, he joined the United States Army.
Hank served as a Military Police Officer and a small arms infantryman. Hank landed in Normandy with the 82nd Airborne Division on D-Day during World War II. He later served with the 4th Infantry Division during the Korean War. He was sent to Viet Nam with the 1st Infantry Division. He retired in 1969 as his unit prepared to return to Viet Nam. During his time in the US Army, Hank earned a Bronze Star, Two Purple Hearts and two Combat Infantry Badges plus numerous other awards connected with his 26 year career.
Following his retirement from the Army he moved to Kansas City, Kansas and worked at the Federal Reserve Bank as an armed Security Guard.
While in Germany in the late 1940’s he met and married his wife, Charlotte Houlder. She worked as a USO Volunteer. They remained together until her death in 2010.
Hank loved going to Pegah’s Restaurant; sometimes as many as three times a day. On Sundays he would attend Shawnee Church of the Nazarene, many times arriving early enough to listen to the church band practice before the service.
More than anything Hank loved his family. They could never come around enough. He had a big heart and never knew a stranger.
Hank was preceded in passing by his wife, Charlotte; son-in-law, Orest Padkowsky; and brother, Bernard Boyd.
Survivors include his daughter, Barbara Padkowsky of Sebastian, FL; daughter, Sharon (Larry) Griffin of Shawnee, KS; grandson, Justin (Tarah) Fricke; granddaughters, Heather Miller, Lisa (Alistair Lee) Padkowsky and Tanya (Tim) Flinn; grandsons-in-law, Chris (Lisa) Griffin and Brent (Ann) Janette Griffin; 10 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to those who gave that extra help during this time; Carol, Teresa, Tamara, Heather, Tarah, “Doc”, Katie and the KC Hospice Staff Melinda, Julia, Dick, and Deena. Thank you to ALL who came to visit and encourage him.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Shawnee Church of the Nazarene, KC Hospice and Palliative Care, or the American Cancer Society.
