Donald C. Boyd

An Historical Account of a Life Well Lived Donald Carl Boyd—or “Don” as most people called him–was born on December 31, 1933, in Erie, Pennsylvania, to parents Margaret V. and G. Carl Boyd. Don was the oldest of four siblings, who are Delores, known as “Dee,” of Waco, Texas; Dorothy, called “Dot,” of Erie, Pennsylvania; and John Alvin, of Springboro, Pennsylvania. On September 12 of 1953, Don married the pastor’s daughter and his childhood sweetheart, Phyllis Jean Robertson. Don and Phyllis were married for 60 years and had four children: Sharon, who married Mike Hayes, and lives in Lexington, Kentucky; Jane, married to Rex Conn and living in Mason, Ohio; Dawn Boyd, who resides near her family in Mason, Ohio; and John Boyd and his wife, Shannon, who live in Aurora, Colorado. Don and Phyllis have 11 grandchildren: Deona Bethart; Beth Stranko, married to Tommy; Richele Hutzelman, married to Dan; Elyse Hayes; Chase Conn; Ali Hayes; Christian Boyd; Boyd Hayes; and Maggie, Audrey and Aidan Boyd. The youngest members of the clan are four great grandchildren, Avary, Jaxson and Harlow Hutzelman; and Parker Stranko. During his lifetime, Don resided in the states of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, New York, and Kentucky. His travels took him to most of the United States, including Hawaii. In 1994, Don and Phyllis enjoyed a safari in Botswana, Africa, where they visited their daughter, Sharon, and family. Along with his colleague and dear friend, Dr. Jerry Mercer, Don traveled to Italy, Bulgaria, Estonia, and Hungary on a theological teaching tour. Visiting Hungary was especially meaningful for Don, as he always took interest and pride in the Hungarian roots of his maternal relatives. In 1952, Don graduated from Strong Vincent High School in Erie, Pennsylvania, where he played football and sang in the school choir. He attended Marion College—today known as Indiana Wesleyan University—from which he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Religion. Both Don and Phyllis sang in the Marion College Choir. Don earned a Master’s degree in Religion, and also taught Greek and New Testament, at Bethany Nazarene College—today known as Southwest Nazarene University—in Oklahoma. He taught Comparative Faiths at Penn State University, and he engaged in continuing education at Colgate Rochester Divinity School in New York. A lifelong student, Don procured a personal library of over 5,000 books. He was also an aficionado of music, art, design, sports, hunting, gardening and bird watching. And he was known by his family as a cook who always added surprise, secret ingredients. Don had many interests, but his vocations in life were Christian ministry and teaching. Don served as a local church pastor for 28 years and as a theological professor for 30 years. As a church pastor, he served in the Wesleyan Methodist; Wesleyan; United Methodist; Christian Church; and Salvation Army denominations. Don was ordained as an elder in the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1956, and his first appointment was as an Associate Pastor in his father-in-law’s church in Barberton, Ohio. Don’s first full pastorates were the Blue Eye and the North Springfield Wesleyan Methodist Churches in rural Pennsylvania. In 1963, Don became the youngest pastor of the New Castle, Pennsylvania, Wesleyan Methodist Church, during which time he oversaw the design and construction of a new church structure. During his New Castle tenure, Don became the youngest District Superintendent in the Allegheny Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church. He additionally served as a delegate to the Merging General Conference of the Wesleyan Church. In 1968, Don and family moved from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where Don pastored the May Avenue Wesleyan Church. Four years later, the family moved to Rochester, New York, where Don pastored at Gates Wesleyan Church for 5 years. While pastoring in Rochester, Don accepted an invitation to join the faculty of Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, as Associate Professor—and later as Full Professor–of Preaching and Worship. While teaching at Asbury, Don also pastored the United Methodist churches of Roberts Chapel and Hebron. He served as a supply pastor for the Chinese Christian Church. And for 30 years, he provided ministry and teaching for the Salvation Army, an affiliation which brought him much fulfillment. Whether serving a church post or not, Don was continuously a pastor, counselor and mentor to innumerable persons who sought his counsel over the years. Don believed in striving for excellence in all that he did. He was a member of the theological and academic society of Theta Phi. He contributed written articles to numerous theological publications. And he was a member of The Order of St. Luke and of the Wesleyan Theological Society. Don lived a life of love for and service to God. He was a man of integrity, grace, contemplation and holiness. Throughout his life, he did not fail to say the important things, like “I love you,” “I’m proud of you,” “I’m sorry,” “I forgive you.” His family and friends well know his sayings, which became so prevalent, that his children filled a book with them: “The word for the day is patience,” “Study to be quiet,” “Love is giving another person room to grow,” and “What you will be, you are now becoming.” Don’s life of faith, service, and integrity impacted his children, who went on to serve in Christian ministry and helping professions as ordained pastor, international missionary, local church leaders, social worker and mental health therapist. Some years after Don retired from formal teaching and preaching, he and Phyllis moved to Chesterwood Retirement Village in West Chester, Ohio, where they enjoyed living near three of their children. Reverend Boyd; Pastor Boyd; Prof Boyd or “Dr. Boyd,” as students called him; Don; Dad; Papa—we your family, friends, colleagues, students, and parishioners will greatly miss you. The world is a better place for your life within it, and your light will continue to shine among us because you allowed God’s Spirit to work in you and through you. Shine on, Donald Carl Boyd, beloved child of God.