Wendell Ray Boyd

Wendell Ray Boyd of Lake Charles, LA has played the 18th hole of his life; passing away Monday, February 13, 2012 in a local hospital after suffering a major stroke. He lived his life right up to the day before the stroke as he had lived it for the past 92 years; never meeting a stranger, always on the go, playing golf, working out at the Trinity Life Center, shooting baskets from the 3 point line and supporting his favorite athletic programs.

He was born in Mansfield, AR on January 28, 1920 with his twin sister to John Emmett and Nellie Boyd. Due to a series of events and the Depression, at the age 5, he and his siblings were put into the Rosalie Tillis Home for Children in Fort Smith, AR. He graduated from the Droughons Business College in bookkeeping. While working in Fort Smith, he played basketball (extremely well) for several city leagues and was scouted by the coaches for Oklahoma Baptist University. They offered and he accepted a full basketball scholarship. In his 1 1/2 years at OBU the university won its first championship. He quit OBU to join the Army Air Corp.

He married Inez Boughton October 10, 1944. They were married 52 years until her death in 1994. They spent most of their married life in Delray Beach, FL where Wendell worked as an area district manager and supervisor for Florida Power Light. He retired from FPL after 32 years of loyal service. They eventually moved to Deltona, FL. After his wife's death, Wendell decided to move to Lake Charles to be near his son in 1999.

Even though Wendell was raised Baptist, in April of 2011 at the age of 91, he was confirmed and took his First Communion at the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church as his family proudly watched. He loved meeting people, playing golf, working out, watching the Golf Channel and McNeese football. He was a past member of the Delray Beach Lions Club and the Petrochem Athletic Assoc.

Wendell was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his eldest brother, John Cornelius Boyd.

Mr. Boyd is survived by two sisters, Doretta Bell of Independence, MO and his twin, Lavana Doolittle of Blue Springs, MO; two children and daughter-in-law, Mike (Patty) Boyd of Lake Charles and Colette Badger of Denver, CO; nine grandchildren and spouses, John (Theresa) Matthews of Greer, SC, Carol (Brian) Hulin of Knoxville, TN, Catherine (Dwayne) Dendy of Denham Springs, LA, Sandra (Scott) Manuel of Singer, LA, Matthew Dishman of Woodville, TX, Christine Brown of Denham Springs, LA, Steve (Erin) Kettelson of Denver, CO, Scott (Ryann) Kettelson of Valpraiso, IN, Mark (Kara) Kettelson of Denver, CO; seventeen great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

His memorial service will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Father Keith Pellerin will officiate. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Friday from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM with a rosary at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.

The family would like to express its deep and sincere gratitude to Wendell's golf buddies Bill McManus, Ken Jordan and Ken Lamb; and the Trinity Life Center Coffee Clache' for all of their continued support. They would also offer their ever-lasting gratefulness and affection to Wendell's special friend and her husband Jeanette and Greg Peterson for all of the love shown to our Dad throughout the past few years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of choice.