“He was a hero to everybody,” said Cassandra Boyd, 26, one of his five children. “He helped everybody and anybody. If you called him he’d stop, drop and help family or stranger. He was all about his family.”
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Boyd was a truck driver and in the last five years, started playing Santa Claus after his beard turned white, his daughter said.
“He loved to see the faces light up on the kids,” she said.
When asked what lesson she learned from her father, she said: “Tomorrow is never promised. Ironic, right?”
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the 82nd Airborne and a Green Beret with the special forces. His distinguished military service decorations included: Parachutist Badge, Rifle Marksman, Hand Grenade Expert Badge, Expert Infantry Badge, and Combat Infantry Badge.
His visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Thursday at Webster Funeral Home, 3080 Homeward Way, Fairfield. The funeral starts at 11 a.m. with Pastor Ron Smith officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors in Dayton National Cemetery.
Cassandra Boyd said the family is inviting all motorcyclists to ride with the funeral procession from the funeral home to the cemetery.
Boyd is survived by his wife of more than 27 years Nancy Boyd; five children Ronald Boyd Jr, Cassandra Boyd, John Boyd, Robert Bales and Ryan Bales; his father Frank (Shirley Higbea) Boyd; two grandchildren April Ashdown and Autumn Boyd; three brothers Robert (Debbie) Boyd, William (Brenda) Boyd, and Richard (Deedee) Boyd.
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