Lawrence “Larry” Lee Boyles II, 84, of Morgantown, passed away at the Madison Center on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
Larry was born in Elkins, W.Va., on April 20, 1939, to the late Lawrence Lee Boyles Sr. and Thelma Mae Carr Boyles.
Larry grew up in Mill Creek, W.Va., and loved to play baseball, tennis and basketball. He also loved the mountains, WVU football and basketball, watching sports on TV, reading and hunting and fishing.
Larry attended Tygart Valley High School where he played basketball and was a trumpet player in the band; he graduated in 1957. After high school, Larry had jobs in construction and with the state road before he attended West Virginia University, majoring in forest management.
When the Vietnam War began, Larry enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country. After basic training, Larry was stationed at Fort Dix in New Jersey and received specialist training in communications and Morse Code at the United States Army Security Agency Training Center & School at Fort Devens, Mass. Upon completion, Larry was deployed to Vietnam where he was assigned to the 3rd Radio Research Unit (RRU) and later, the 7th RRU, where he conducted communication intelligence operations. Upon being honorably discharged from the Army, Larry finished his college education and received a Bachelor of Science in forest management from West Virginia University.
Larry was an entrepreneur at heart and started the Morgantown Garden Center from a corner lot in Sabraton and sold mums at local festivals. He then worked for the WVU Physical Plant Roads and Grounds Department as a tree surgeon for several years before opening Hillside Florist and Greenhouse, which he operated for over 35 years. Larry made the most beautiful floral arrangements that decorated churches and businesses in Morgantown during the holidays. He grew poinsettias, vegetables and flowers from seed, but later transitioned to a less labor-intensive business strategy. Every spring he looked forward to seeing his customers and was exceptionally proud of his plants. He had great satisfaction in seeing his finished products landscaping various houses, Morgantown businesses and WVDOH rest areas. Even after retirement, he continued using his green thumb by planting tomatoes and sharing them with everyone he could.
He is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Boyles, of Morgantown, and Kimberly Nawrocki (Andrew), of Boulder, Co.; son, Daniel Boyles, of Charleston, W.Va.; grandson, Ellis Nawrocki; sister, Linda Navarre, of Buckhannon, W.Va.; brother, Samuel Boyles (Diane), of Buckhannon, W.Va.; a favorite (and only) niece, many nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, JT Navarre.
His children would like to thank Larry’s VA Home Based Primary Care team, his doctors, nurses, the staff at the Madison Center and numerous private caregivers who compassionately cared for Larry these last years. Your care and concern for his well-being means the world to us.
As one of the seven founders of Trinity Christian School in Morgantown, Larry was an advocate of excellent Christian education made available to all families, regardless of their financial situation. He donated countless hours over the years to board meetings and building the original school site.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Larry Boyles Founders Scholarship at Trinity Christian School, 200 Trinity Way, Morgantown, WV, 26505. This scholarship will support families who would otherwise be unable to attend Trinity due to financial constraints.
Inurnment will take place at Brick Church Cemetery in Huttonsville, W.Va., at noon on Saturday, April 20, with full military honors.
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