Clyde H. Board Jr.

1918 - 2008

Clyde H. Board Jr., 90, of Cherry Hill Estates died on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, in Ocala Fla. He was formerly of Glasgow, Va., Fort Myers, Fla., Decatur, Ill., Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Va. He was the son of Clyde Board Sr. and Chole Conner Board. He was born on October 4, 1918, in Floyd County, Va., and attended Christiansburg High School where he played football, baseball, basketball and he was on the boxing team. He was also a member of Masons Chapter in Lexington, Va. He served in the United States Marines near the end of World War II. He owned and operated Board Electric & Appliance Company on 35th Street and later on Ingleside Road during the 50's and 60's in Norfolk, Va. He was an electrician at the Virginian Railroad coal piers in Norfolk, Va. Following the merger of the Virginian with the Norfolk and Western, he serviced passenger trains and eventually moved to the Round House in Norfolk, Va. Later he was promoted and transferred to the Chicago, Ill., area as the Head Round House foreman. He eventually took a transfer to Decatur, Ill., where he was responsible for all the electrical work covering about five Midwest states for the railroad. He was also nominated as engineer of the year by the Illinois Power Company during his assignment in the Chicago area. He retired from the Norfolk and Western Railroad which later merger into the Norfolk and Southern after 33 years of service at the age of 57 and moved to his cattle farm in Glasgow, Va. He retired again moving to his Florida homes in the late 90's.
He also helped resurrect the AARP Chapter in Lexington, Va., as well aided in forming the Chapters in Rockbridge and other surrounding counties while living in Glasgow. He also managed the men's fast pitch softball team from the Virginian Railroad for many years while living in Norfolk, Va.
He is survived by his wife, Stella, of Ocala; his daughters, Patsy Smith, of Glasgow, Va., and Darleen Kessinger, of Helena, Ala.; and sons, Clyde Board III, of Portsmouth, N.H., Howard Board, of Ellicott City, Md., and Fred Board, of Houston, Texas; four grandsons; seven granddaughters; two stepgranddaughters; and one stepgrandson; six greatgrandsons; six greatgranddaughters; two nieces; and two nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; sister, Junita; brother, Howard; and grandsons, Billy Smith and Chris Board.
A funeral service will be held 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2008, at the Harrison Funeral Home in Lexington, Va., with the Rev. William Thomas officiating. Viewing will be held one hour before the service. Graveside services will be held 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, October 26, 2008, at the Wilson Cemetery in Check, Va. Graveside services will be handled by Gardner Funeral Home, Floyd, Va.