William E. Boyer, Jr.

YORK- Absent in the body, present with the Lord. On May 29, 2011 at 12:40 p.m., William E. Boyer Jr. died of cancer complications. He was the husband of Thelma M. (Booher) Boyer to whom he was married for 44 years. A celebration of life service will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011 at Heffner Fuenral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., 1551 Kenneth Road, York with the Rev. Robert H. Riedy officiating. A viewing will be from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Susquehanna Memorial Gardens with military honors presented by the York County Veterans Honor Guard. Mr. Boyer was born on June 28, 1935 in York, a son of the late William E. and Beluah (Forry) Boyer. Graduating from West York High School (Class of 1953), he played & performed in over a third of the world with the U.S. Navy music program from 1955 through 1959 during the Eisenhower administrations “People to People” program. He performed with the flagship band of the U.S.S. Salem (CA-139) and U.S.S. Des Moines (CA134). After leaving the Navy and having a college opportunity, he graduated from Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC. He traveled with the school’s summer ensemble promoting the school to over two-thirds of the USA. In the lifetime of musical activities, “Music got me more places than my parents could ever afford to send me”. A person who wore two hats – one for “Big Business” and one for “Small Business”. His Big Business hat involved doing business “book work” in the mineral grinding industry for Koppers Corp (later MPSI) located in York, PA. Later he was involved with construction “book work” for Central Maintenance Company in Baltimore, MD. William’s “Small Business” hat involved performing music, and training trombone and baritone students for over 44 years. In addition to his faithful wife, Thelma, Mr. Boyer is survived by two sons: Jeffrey D. Boyer and wife, Susan L. of York; and Scott N. Boyer and wife Jennifer N. of Bowie, M.D. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to American Red Cross, 724 S. George Street, York, PA 17403.