Marvin S Boyles

Marvin S. Boyles, 78, Bellemead, disliked being the center of attention but loved being surrounded by his family and friends, so it was perhaps a mixed blessing when he passed away at home as the focus of his family's gathering on Wednesday. He was born in Altoona, the oldest of seven children loved and nurtured by Baltzer and Evelyn (Koontz) Boyles. Marvin graduated from Altoona High School in 1954, met the beautiful Patty L. Smith in September 1955 and married her months later. He spent the next 58 years adoring her and giving her a life full of love, laughter, adventure and commitment. Their children, Richard Sr., Stephen and Tim, received the love and affection that remained. It was never in short supply as he had plenty to spread around. When his grandchildren, Richard Jr., John, Shanon and Brittany came along, he treasured them as he did his own life. His great-grandchildren, Dakota and Lane, put an even brighter light in his crystal blue eyes. Marvin is also survived by four siblings: William, Dan and wife, Gail, and Karen Saylor and husband, Greg, all of Altoona, and Judy and husband, John, of Sun City, S.C. Two brothers, David "Dink" and Stephen, preceded him in death. Marvin had a great love for many things: his wife and family, his friends, the outdoors and cleanliness. The best times of his life were spent in the woods stalking deer, turkey or elk or, in retirement, on the waters of the Florida Keys fishing with his friends, sons and grandson and socializing as the unofficial snowbird mayor of Sunshine Key RV Park. Marvin more than earned the right to retire in 1998 after driving more than two million fault-and-accident free miles for Ward Trucking Corp. He was a member of Greenwood United Methodist Church. Friends will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. today, Feb. 28, 2014, at Mauk & Yates Funeral Home Inc., Juniata, and from 10 until the 11 a.m. funeral service Saturday, March 1, 2014, at Greenwood United Methodist Church, followed by interment at Blair Memorial Park in Bellwood and then a luncheon at Greenwood United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made for melanoma research, in memory of Marvin Boyles, to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) or UPMC CancerCenter, Development Department, UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Suite 1B, 5150 Centre Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15232; or to Greenwood United Methodist Church.