FRANCIS EDWARD BOYD

SAN ANGELO - Francis Edward Boyd was born Oct. 28, 1922, in Anson, Texas. He came to Irion County with parents Mr. and Mrs. John Boyd at age 4. He graduated from Mertzon High School in 1939 and attended Baylor University and Texas AandM University. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in May 1942 and was commissioned as second lieutenant at Big Spring U.S. Air Base in 1943. Serving with the 8th Air Force in England, he flew 31 combat missions over Germany. He was decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. Ed entered the Texas Highway Patrol in January 1947. He was stationed in Ballinger and San Angelo until 1950. He was then recalled to active military service during the Korean War. He served as Provost Marshal at Goodfellow Air Force Base and Greenville Air Force Base until September 1953. When released from active service, Ed returned to the Texas Highway Patrol. He was stationed in Midland and San Angelo until 1955. Upon promotion to Highway Patrol sergeant, he was assigned to district headquarters in Austin. Recalled to active military service in March 1962, Ed served as director of security and law enforcement at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Ind.; chief of law enforcement, 5th Air Force Headquarters in Fuchu, Japan; and as 41st Air Division provost marshal at Yakota Air Force Base, Japan, until released from active service in 1966. He returned to the Texas Highway Patrol in January 1967 as patrol sergeant in Del Rio until November 1968, when he was transferred to San Angelo as patrol sergeant. Ed retired from the Texas Highway Patrol on Aug. 31, 1982. He graduated from Angelo State University in 1974 with a B.A. degree in government and completed academic requirements for his master's degree in history and government at Angelo State in 1982. He was married to Oleta Inez Martin on Sept. 23, 1944, in Midland. Ed was most proud of his wife of 60 years; sons Joe Edward and wife Shelley of San Angelo, Robert Glenn and wife Vicki Ann of Shreveport, La., and Donald Lynn and wife Linda of San Angelo; grandchildren Heather Rae and husband Ryan Edmonds of Canton, Ronda Sue and husband Troy Hartman of Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Rachel and husband Randy Roeder, Michael Kramer, John Donald Boyd, Amanda Leigh and husband Jayson Gonzales, and Clay Edward Boyd, all of San Angelo; and eight great-grandchildren. He also is survived by a special niece, Melanie Sue, her husband, Grant Rice, and their three children of Houston; special cousins Dorothy and J.D. Wallace and daughter Jamie of Sweetwater; sister-in-law Joy and husband Weldon Henkhaus of Houston; and numerous other loved ones and friends, among whom are his loving Hospice nurses. Many thanks and appreciation go to Dr. Johnny French for many years of care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of San Angelo or The Heights Baptist Church. Funeral service was at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at Johnson's Funeral Home with Dr. James Miller and Hospice chaplain Mike Andress officiating.

July 2, 2005
Lee Smith
Eddie and I worked together when I was a new Highway Patrol Sergeant at Del Rio beginning in 1977 and he was the Sergeant in San Angelo. I had the good fortune to work in the same sub-district with him until his retirement. Although Eddie was almost 25 years my senior, he always treated me as an equal as a DPS supervisor. Eddie gave me a lot of good guidance and advice as he had already been down the roads I was traveling. Whatever success I achieved as a DPS officer, Eddie had a role in making that happen. I very much admire the legacy he has left. May God provide comfort to all his family. Major Lee Smith (Ret.) Texas Highway Patrol Waco, Texas