Obituary for William J. Boyer Sr.
William J. Boyer, 95, of Muhlenberg Township, passed away on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Freedom Village in Coatesville. He was the husband of Helen F. Boyer, who predeceased him in 2013.
Born in Leesport, he was the son of the late Clayton and Alta (Paterson) Boyer. William worked for the Reading Railroad, starting at an unusually young age, due to the war effort, as a machinist apprentice and continuing until the railroad shut down operations in Reading. His employment with the railroad was interrupted by a hitch in the Army near the conclusion of WWII. After the Army, he returned to the railroad. His machinist experience deepened, and he became a specialist in the repair of gearboxes used in commuter rail cars. In addition to his day job, he had a passion for farming and farmed over 200 acres of cash crops during the evenings and Saturdays for many years. His machinist experience served him well in keeping various farming equipment in operating condition. During most of his farming years, he grew sweet corn and sold it along route 61, where Fishers Chevrolet is now located.
Recent years brought the enjoyment of gardening and tending to yard plants. Seeing plants grow brought him delight. He loved playing games with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He took them snowmobiling in the winter, and played cornhole and other yard games in the summer. He was always up for a good board game or a game of cards with them.
William is survived by two sons, William J. Boyer Jr. of West Chester, and Robert E. Boyer of Elizabethtown; grandsons: Todd R. and Kevin M. Boyer, sons of Robert, and Mark J. and Eric J. Boyer, sons of William; and eleven great grandchildren: Maxwell, Noah, Sophie, Layla, Todd, Jada, Shawndre'a, Riley, Owen, Juliet, and Aubrey.
Services for William will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. 739 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611. A viewing will be held from 9:00 am until the service. Entombment will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Reading Hospital Foundation, PO Box 16052, Reading, PA 19612 or online at towerhealth.org/make-a-gift
Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.
Born in Leesport, he was the son of the late Clayton and Alta (Paterson) Boyer. William worked for the Reading Railroad, starting at an unusually young age, due to the war effort, as a machinist apprentice and continuing until the railroad shut down operations in Reading. His employment with the railroad was interrupted by a hitch in the Army near the conclusion of WWII. After the Army, he returned to the railroad. His machinist experience deepened, and he became a specialist in the repair of gearboxes used in commuter rail cars. In addition to his day job, he had a passion for farming and farmed over 200 acres of cash crops during the evenings and Saturdays for many years. His machinist experience served him well in keeping various farming equipment in operating condition. During most of his farming years, he grew sweet corn and sold it along route 61, where Fishers Chevrolet is now located.
Recent years brought the enjoyment of gardening and tending to yard plants. Seeing plants grow brought him delight. He loved playing games with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He took them snowmobiling in the winter, and played cornhole and other yard games in the summer. He was always up for a good board game or a game of cards with them.
William is survived by two sons, William J. Boyer Jr. of West Chester, and Robert E. Boyer of Elizabethtown; grandsons: Todd R. and Kevin M. Boyer, sons of Robert, and Mark J. and Eric J. Boyer, sons of William; and eleven great grandchildren: Maxwell, Noah, Sophie, Layla, Todd, Jada, Shawndre'a, Riley, Owen, Juliet, and Aubrey.
Services for William will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc. 739 Penn Avenue West Reading, PA 19611. A viewing will be held from 9:00 am until the service. Entombment will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Reading Hospital Foundation, PO Box 16052, Reading, PA 19612 or online at towerhealth.org/make-a-gift
Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc, 739 Penn Avenue, West Reading, PA 19611 is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhomes.com.