DAVID CARLYLE BOYKIN

David Carlyle Boykin of Arlington Heights since 1975 David Carlyle Boykin, 74. Born on January 9, 1939 in Akron, Ohio to the late Grover Carlyle and Mildred Boykin, David Carlyle Boykin passed away on Friday, May 3 surrounded by his family at the Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter in Arlington Heights. David grew up as the eldest of five children in Center Line, Mich., a Detroit suburb, where he became a fan of R&B, Doo Wop and blues music. After earning a bachelor's degree from Oakland University in 1964 when it was affiliated with Michigan State University, David began working at the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) in Chicago, where he met his wife and soul mate, Catharine, in a training class. In January, the couple celebrated 45 years of loving marriage. On their first date, they attended a Grant Park Music Festival concert, and they continued to delight in these summer concerts and other cultural and civic opportunities throughout their time together - especially since his retirement from the RRB in 2004. He retired with 43 years of federal government service, including his years working the overnight shift at the U.S. Postal Service during college. An avid genealogist, David spent precious time tracing ancestral roots and would spark when explaining how these connections tied us all together. His detective work in genealogy provided the ideal hobby for him as it combined his deep love of reading, history and family. David pleasured in his role as a HODAR, or husband of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and later discovered his own family connections enabled him to join the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). A real highlight of his life was an appearance on the PBS series "Antiques Roadshow." David also was a voracious reader who endeavored to stay updated on current events and politics. A lifetime learner, he enjoyed new technology, such as Skyping with his granddaughters and "liking" things on Facebook. David was a wonderful, kind and gentle father with an optimistic spirit who loved to share and explore life with his three children, leading them on cross-country car trips to the West and East coasts, and joining the Trail Mates, Indian Guides and Indian Princess father-child programs through the YMCA. He would proudly don a college sweatshirt or T-shirt of his children's respective alma maters whenever he visited with each of them. In recent years, he showered his granddaughters with the same love and support. David earned a master of business administration from Loyola University Chicago, and master of administrative science from the University of Illinois at Chicago. David is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Catharine Boykin; his loving children, Ann Carlyle Boykin of Washington, D.C., Samuel Epes Turner (Antha Williams) Boykin of New York and Rebecca Ames Boykin of Chicago; his cherished granddaughters, Azalie Ames and Maja Sparrow Boykin-Williams; brothers, Jerry (Dr. Kit Cauble) Boykin of Virginia and Donald Boykin of Evanston; sisters-in-law and brother-in-law; and many nieces and nephews. David was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Philip Boykin; sister, Jeanne Boykin; his beloved aunts; his brother-in-law; and nephews, John Philip Mathieson and Nathaniel Lynch. A memorial service will be scheduled this summer. Arrangements were made by Ahlgrim Family Funeral Services in Palatine. In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated for Memorial Park c/o Arlington Heights Park Foundation, 410 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004; the Eli Skinner Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, c/o 1215 Brandywyn Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089; and WTTW Channel 11 (PBS) (www.wttw.com).