Final Salute

Donald Richard Boyles, 91, passed peacefully on September 1st, 2021, at his home in Ripley, Oklahoma. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 2 PM, September 25th, 2021, at Strode Funeral Home Chapel, Stillwater, Oklahoma with Pastor Aaron Grantz officiating.
Don was born July 27, 1930, in Council Valley, Oklahoma to Carrol Jacob Boyles and Jennie Martha (Raffety) Boyles. He was the youngest of seven children.
Don’s family moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma when he was 12 years old. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1948 and married his high school sweetheart, Juanita Joyce Pilgrim on November 30, 1948, on her 18th birthday. They were married 63 years at the time of her death in 2011. They had two children, Mark Carroll Boyles, 1954 and Matt Henry Boyles, 1957.
Don’s military service was in the Navy, 1952-1956 (Seabee’s) Construction Dependent Housing, Guam, Mariana Islands. Son Mark was born on Guam. He retired with 30 years of active and reserve duty with the US Navy.
Don earned a B.S. Geology Degree in 1960 and a M.S. TIED degree in 1979 from Oklahoma State University. A proud time for Don was when he, Mark, and Matt all earned degrees from OSU in 1979. He stated his biggest accomplishments were Mark and Matt, their education and work ethic.
Don’s construction career began on the crew building the OSU Library. He went to work at Ingham Lumber Co. from 1960-1975, earning the position of Manager. With the opening of Indian Meridian Vo-Tech in 1975, he was hired as the first Carpentry Instructor. In 1981-82 school year, named Outstanding Indian Meridian Vocational Technical School. One of his proudest accomplishments and enjoyments was teaching and seeing his students succeed in life.
In 1988, he joined the Oklahoma State Department of Vocational Education in the Trade and Industrial Education Division until his retirement. At that time, he dedicated himself full time to his farming hay operation which he maintained until his death.
He was active over his lifetime in the community through volunteering and involvement in Stillwater Home Builders, United Way, Stillwater Jaycees, Habitat for Humanities, and was a member of the Ripley United Methodist Church.
He loved to fish, and his favorite place was Broken Bow Lake. He loved his home which he and his sons built over 4 years and Juanita spent the remainder of her life with him planting many, many trees, and shrubs.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Jennie Boyles, the love of his life Juanita; his son, Mark Carroll Boyles; brothers Clyde Carroll Boyles and Morrison M Boyles; sisters Emily Alta Boyles, Dorthey Ruby Boyles, Bessie Nell Boyles, and Betty Lou Boyles.
Grandad is remembered with love by surviving family members, son, Matt Boyles and wife Teresa; daughter-in-law Maria Boyles; grandchildren Brandon Boyles, Tyler Boyles and wife Marissa, Ryan Boyles and wife Leah, Katie Boyles and fiancée Harlin Tant; great grandchildren Harvey Boyles and Georgiana Boyles and many other extended family members and his longtime companion, his dog, Rambo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Habitat for Humanities, P.O. Box 912, Stillwater OK 74076 or United Way, 109 E. 9th Av., Stillwater, OK 74074 or your local respective chapter.
Condolences may be sent to the family and an online obituary viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com.
Published on September 16, 2021