John G. Boyden, Sr., 96, of Stillman Drive, died October 2, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 6th at 11:00 a.m. at the Lawrence Funeral Home, Canton with Mother Evette Austin officiating. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 5 - 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Fairview cemetery, Canton at the convenience of the family.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Grace Episcopal Church, 9 E. Main Street, Canton, NY 13617 or Salvation Army, 723 State Street, Watertown, NY 13601.
Surviving are his two sons, John G. Boyden, Jr. and wife Sylvia of Canton and Richard “Dick” Boyden and wife Nicole of VT; five grandchildren, Joel, Jerry, Lisa, Eric and Victoria; five great-grandchildren; one niece and one nephew.
Predeceased are his wife, Thelma P., who died Feb 26, 2008; a brother, Clifford and three sisters, Laura, Lillian and Elizabeth Jane Boyden.
Born August 12, 1914 in Watertown, son of John Wm. and Alice Hannah (Even) Boyden, he graduated Watertown High School in 1932, where he was on the National Honor Society and graduated with a Regents Diploma.
After high school, John took his father’s position as head maintenance man at Trinity Church in Watertown until his father could return from an on the job injury. On May 12, 1935, John left Watertown for Albany where he worked at Woolworth’s Dept. Store as a Manager Trainee. This was the start of a 35 year career for Woolworth’s.
On June 21, 1936, he married Thelma Pearl Mackley at the Trinity Chapel in Watertown with Rev. Walter C. Middleton as celebrant.
The family was relocated and traveled all over the North East, where John worked as assistant manager or manager for a number of Woolworth’s Dept. Stores including, Easthampton, MA, Holyoke, MA, Watertown, NY, Stamford, CT, Bristol, CT, Herkimer, NY; Cortland, NY; Newport, VT; and briefly in Augusta, ME where he retired in 1971.
John later worked in the Newport, VT area for the Area Agency on Aging for ten years, starting as an Outreach Worker and moving to the position of Senior Service Advocate before retiring in December 1987 due to illness.
The family enjoyed traveling and spending time at the cottage at Guffin’s Bay on Lake Ontario.
John and his late wife, Thelma moved from Vermont to Canton on November 17, 1999 to be closer to their son.
Condolences may be sent online to www.lawrencefuneralhome.org
