Dr. Harold W. Boyce

Dr. Harold W. Boyce
May 13, 1927 – April 28, 2024
Harold Boyce, 96, of Jacksonville, FL sadly left us on April 28, 2024 at The Windsor of San Pablo.
Harold was born in Mishawaka, IN and adopted as an infant to parents John Henry and Grace Mildred Boyce. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, and wife Nedra Fay Boyce (after 69 years of marriage), and granddaughter Jami Boyce Barkley.
Survivors include his sons James Milton Boyce (Marti) and Galen R. Boyce (Donna), grandchildren James Boyce II (JC), Jennifer Tillery (Brian), and Shane Boyce (Michelle), great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Harold led a fulfilled and purposeful life, with humble beginnings and losing his adored mother at age 7. After high school in South Bend, IN, he attended Marion College preparing for the ministry. He worked many jobs to put himself through college and to support a family on a preacher's salary. He and Nedra pastored three small community churches before returning to college. After graduating from Marion College (Indiana Wesleyan University) in 1952, he faithfully pastored many churches from his college years and continued to serve as a guest preacher into his 80's. He became a full professor and spent 24 years of service to Marion College as Director of Library Services. During that time, he obtained his Phd in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University. After retiring from Marion College, he became the Administrator of the Eastern Indiana Library Services Authority before moving to Georgia.
Dr. Boyce is remembered as a true gentleman with a wonderful smile and sense of humor. Always positive and congenial, never an unkind word! From the time Harold (in junior high school) accepted Jesus at a church revival, he wrote that "the Holy Spirit became his Teacher and Guide and his life began to follow His leadership". Shortly after, he felt God was calling him to preach and he became ordained in the 1940's as a minister in the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He was loved as an adult Sunday School teacher and visited and supported foreign missionaries. In retirement, Harold and Nedra served as Volunteer Chaplains at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport where they provided spiritual guidance to both the traveling public, airport and airline employees.
A graveside service will be held at Camp Memorial Cemetery in Fayetteville, GA on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 11:00 AM. The service will be officiated by Rev. Mark Ward. Donations in Dr. Boyce's memory may be directed to The Wesleyan Church Headquarters, 13300 Olio Rd, Suite 100, Fishers, IN 46037.