Will (Bill) E. Boyd

Will (Bill) Edwin Boyd, age 98, died Monday, September 13, 2010 in Austin, Texas, where he had lived for over 43 years. He was born August 7, 1912 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was the eldest son of William E. and Annie L. Boyd of Queen City, Texas.

He attended public schools in Shreveport, graduating from Byrd High School in 1929. He obtained a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Oklahoma University in 1936. Bill worked in the oil business for nearly 45 years. He worked for Gulf Oil and its subsidiaries for approximately 30 years, first in Venezuela with Mene Grande Oil Company, Kuwait with Kuwait Oil Company, with Gulf Oil in Houston, Texas, and finally with British American Oil Company in Lafayette, Louisiana. After taking early retirement, he worked approximately 14 years with the University of Texas Petroleum Extension Services in Austin, Texas.

Bill served three years, 1943-1945, with the U.S. Marine Corps Aviation during WW II in the South Pacific (Solomon Islands).

Bill Boyd married Hallene Gaulding of Houston, Texas in 1946. Over the next 55 years of marriage they lived in Venezuela, Kuwait, Houston, Texas, Lafayette, Louisiana and finally, Austin, Texas. His beloved wife, Hallene died in 2001.

He is survived by their four children: son, David Boyd and his wife, Patti of Austin, with daughter, Jody McWhorter of McAllen; son, Ross Boyd and his wife, Noriko, with daughters, Milene and Christina of Austin; daughter, Elaine McAngus and husband, Drew McAngus, with sons, David Scott and Jacob of Austin; daughter, Kathy Hille and husband, John Hille, with children, Mary Beth, Nathan, Michelle, Paul, and Faith, of Austin. Bill is also survived by his sister, Linnie B. Hundemer of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 16, 2010 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 17, 2010 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.

The family would like to thank Rachel Gonzales and the many other caregivers and staff for the compassion and care given to our father during his eight year residency at the Heritage at Gaines Ranch.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made in honor of Will and Hallene Boyd to Hospice Austin's Christopher House at 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Ste 100, Austin, Texas 78759.