Vandiver Harold Boyles

Vandiver Harold Boyles, age 40, of Tuscaloosa, died March 19, 2012, at home. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Rob Cain officiating and Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Harold Boyles; his maternal grandparents, R.C. and Lois Fields; and his paternal grandparents, Aaron and Ludie Boyles.

Survivors include his wife, Regina Faye Boyles of Tuscaloosa; his daughter, Elizabeth Anne Boyles of Tuscaloosa; his sister, Jennifer Joan Barger (Jimmy) of Tuscaloosa; his mother, Joan Fields Boyles of Tuscaloosa; his niece, Savannah Boyd; his nephews, Shaun Boyd and Shay Boyd; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Van was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He graduated from Central High School in 1989 and went to the University of Alabama, where he earned a B.A. in Psychology, an M.A. in Community Counseling, and an Ed.S. in Counselor Education. He worked in mental health for many years with the University of Alabama and Partlow. Van had a special place in his heart for the mentally and physically challenged. After leaving the mental health profession, he spent the remainder of his life serving the city of Tuscaloosa as a police officer, first with the City of Tuscaloosa, and then with the University of Alabama.

He was a man who deeply loved God, his family, and friends. Van, the great communicator, will best be remembered for his passion for the word of God and how that relates to science, his heartwarming smile, his ability to make instant friendships, his flavorful use of the English language, his ability to tell a tall tale, and his never-ending supply of "Craig stories". Van was a loyal and faithful husband, father, and friend. He will be greatly missed, but we look forward to seeing him again one day, where he will surely have many tall tales to keep us entertained for an eternity.

Honorary Color Guard will be the University of Alabama Police Department.

Honorary pallbearers are Curt Anderson, John Grimes, Craig Elmore, Jeremy and Jason Hunter, Dusty Harp, Mark Cunningham, the University of Alabama Police Department, the Tuscaloosa Police Department, the Northport Police Department, Tuscaloosa Fire & Rescue, and NorthStar Paramedic Services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Boyles Family Fund at Alabama Credit Union.