Ralph Willis Boyd

1931 - 2010

Ralph Willis Boyd of Camarillo passed away peacefully with family at his side on Friday morning, November 19, 2010 at the age of 79 of heart failure.

He was born on January 9, 1931 in West Plains, Mo. The family moved to Southern California in 1936 and located to the Antelope Valley in 1947. The family had one of the first real estate offices specializing in agricultural properties. Ralph graduated from Antelope Valley High School in 1949 where he was student body president and also was serving as California State President of the Future Farmer's of America. He earned a full scholarship to University of California at Davis from Standard Oil Co. for raising and showing a Grand Champion hog at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.

He had to leave school in his sophomore year to serve in the U.S. Navy for 4 years during the Korean War. He served on the USS Yancey, a supply ship the entire time.

After discharge he returned to Davis and graduated in Agricultural Economics in 1957. In 1978 he was accepted by Harvard Business School for its Advance Management Program. In 1985, he and his wife of 57 years, Georgene moved to Camarillo where he was associated with CB Commercial Real Estate (now known as CB Richard Ellis) as an agricultural acreage specialist.

Upon retiring in 1996 he continued his education by attending Pepperdine University School of Law to become a certified civil mediator and then served pro bono for Superior Court of California, Ventura County.

He converted to Catholicism in 1993 at the new Padre Serra Church and began the most fulfilling part of his life's journey. After retirement he served as Eucharistic Minister to the sick homebound and at St. John's Medical Center and St. John's Pleasant Valley. He served in many leadership capacities at Padre Serra and attended daily Mass for the past 13 years.

He is survived by his devoted wife and 5 children: Lori (Jeff) Title; Georgene (Tom) Littlefair; James Ralph Boyd; Christopher (Rosa) Boyd and Maria (Joe) Fazio. Eight grandchildren, Mara and Josh Title; Rose and Georgie Grace Littlefair; Cole and Paydon Boyd and James and Therese Fazio. Also, his only sibling, John Boyd of Blythe, Calif.

Vigil service is Tuesday (Nov.23) at Padre Serra Church, 5205 Upland Rd. Camarillo. Viewing 6-7p.m.Vigil service 7 p.m. and Mass of the Resurrection on Wednesday (Nov. 24), 9 a.m, Interment at San Fernando Mission Cemetery at 11:45.

In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be made to Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, 525 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD. 21205 http://bit.ly/ralphboyd Attention: Fiona Newton or to Padre Serra Building Fund, 5205 Upland Road, Camarillo, CA 93012.

Arrangements under the direction of Griffin FamilyFuneral Chapels, 1075 E. Daily Dr., Camarillo, CA 805-482-1166.