KENNETH H. BOYD

KENNETH H. BOYD BURLINGTON / VERGENNES - Kenneth H. Boyd, 81, passed from this world during the evening of April 14, 2009, and is standing on the bright shores of heaven reunited with family and loved ones and embraced in the love of God the Father and Jesus the Son. Ken was born on April 16, 1927, in Jacksonville, Vt., the son of the late Hiram N. Boyd and Edith F. (Davidson) Wheeler. Ken left high school in 1945 to enlist in the United States Navy. He married Theresa M. Plankey on Aug. 11, 1945, and shortly after was honorably discharged from the Navy at the conclusion of World War II. Ken and Theresa returned to Vermont from Bayonne, N.J. and began to raise a family eventually having six children. Theresa predeceased Ken on July 10, 1987, from a long struggle with cancer. Ken married Marylyn (Wallace) O'Brien on Aug. 27, 1988, and they had 10 very happy and enjoyable years together. Marylyn predeceased Ken on Oct. 9, 1998, from pulmonary fibrosis. Nearly all of Ken's working career was spent in the plumbing trade except for a short stint as miner for the Eastern Magnesia Talk Mining Co. Ken was a master plumber and steam/ boiler fitter. He was one of the first licensed master plumbers and master electricians in the State of Vermont. Ken retired on April 28, 1989, from Simmonds Precision Products, a division of Hercules Corporation in Vergennes, Vt. There was no trade that escaped his interest, he was a gifted carpenter and mason. Ken was a voracious reader and was always searching for more knowledge whether it was new plumbing technique or experimental heart valve replacement. Just ask the doctors that were preparing him for his heart valve replacement in March of 2008. He was an avid lover of the Boston Red Sox and really enjoyed their last two World Series wins. Snatching the American League Championship from the New York Yankees was one of his greatest moments as a lifelong Red Sox fan. Ken loved spending time with all of his family playing cribbage, watching NASCAR on TV, sharing Sunday dinners. He loved to spend time outdoors watching the annual geese migration at Dead Creek, walking and picnicking at Texas Falls and the Robert Frost Memorial Park. Ken is survived by his children, Kenneth H. J. Boyd and his wife Alice of South Burlington, Vt., William N. Boyd and his wife Mona of Maryville, Tenn., Paul D. Boyd of Winooski, Vt., Alan L. Boyd and his wife Judy of Essex Junction, Vt., Mary Anne Gero and her husband Robert of Colchester, Vt. and Chris A. Boyd and his wife Mary of Shelburne, Vt. He is survived by 16 grandchildren, John C. Boyd, Jasen R. Boyd, Erin K. Boyd, Lahoma Marie Randall, Lisa Jean Stoudt, Brian James, Paula Tomiko Lemieux, Michael James Boyd, Catherine Satomi Boyd, Sarah Marie Downs, Wendy Lee Lavery, Nicholas Boyd Whitten, Joshua Reed Whitten, Kimberly Anne Gero, Kristin Andrea Gero, and Robert Alan Gero. Ken is also survived by 22 greatgrandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Ken is survived by a very special friend, Rose Alba Plankey of Vergennes who spent many hours over the past 10 years, playing cribbage, going out to dinner, cooking dinner, going for walks, rides and picnics and recently spending time with him when he recovered from surgery. Besides his parents and spouses, Ken was predeceased by his sisters, Gladys Largena and Barbara Cutter and a great-grandson Matthew Jenkins. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 18, 2009, at 11 a.m. in St. Anthony Church, 305 Flynn Ave., Burlington, VT. Interment will be at a later date in Grand Isle, Vt. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today in the Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Home, 85 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, VT. Donations may be made in Ken's memory to: Vergennes Area Rescue Service, Panton Road, Vergennes, 05491, Addison County Home Health & Hospice, Route 7, Middlebury, VT 05753, Champlain Valley Agency on Aging, 76 Pearl St., Essex Junction, VT 05452,Attn. Addison County Meals on Wheels. Arrangements are by Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Directors.