WILMINGTON — Robert (Bob) Boyd passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025, surrounded by family at the Hospice House in Wilmington, NC.
Bob was born on Friday, January 13, 1939 — a day he fondly called his lucky day. He was raised on a dairy farm just outside Mooresville, NC, where he learned the value of hard work from a young age. Bob attended Mt. Ulla School, completing all 12 grades there.
He excelled both academically and athletically, earning recognition in local newspapers for his accomplishments in basketball and baseball. An active member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA), Bob won numerous awards for livestock showing and was honored to serve as FFA North Carolina Secretary.
A gifted athlete, Bob was offered a contract to play semi-professional baseball with the Houston Astros’ farm team. After high school, he pursued a degree in education at Appalachian State University and Catawba College, preparing for a lifelong career in teaching and administration. He began his teaching career at Odell School in Mooresville, where he taught Math and Science.
In 1959, Bob married Claudette Williams of Faith, NC. Together they raised three children: Donna, Todd, and Lorie.
Bob’s career in education flourished. In 1967, he joined the staff at Catawba College as Dean of Admissions and later became Dean of Students. In 1971, he moved to Raleigh to work for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (DPI), eventually rising to the role of Assistant State Superintendent for Personnel. During his tenure, he earned his master’s degree. He retired from DPI in the early 1990’s.
In 1976, Bob purchased 156 acres in Franklin County near Bunn, NC. By Christmas 1977, he and his family had moved to their new home there. Despite commuting daily to Raleigh, Bob poured his energy into building a working farm. He fenced pastures, raised nearly 50 head of beef cattle, and later expanded the farm into a thriving business. Each year, he planted around 2,000 Christmas trees, eventually growing an inventory of over 10,000 for local families to choose and cut during the holidays. Bob also developed a nursery with four greenhouses, producing spring flowers, Easter lilies, and Christmas poinsettias. His landscaping stock included over 12,000 azaleas and a wide array of shrubs and trees.
After retiring from DPI, Bob focused full-time on the farm until its sale in 1999. He and his wife, Maria, moved to River Landing, a golf community in Wallace, NC, where he played golf at least five days a week. Golf became one of Bob’s great passions, and he was honored to serve on the NC Golf Panel, where he helped evaluate and rate courses across the state.
In 2019, Bob moved to Magnolia Greens, another golf community in Leland, NC. Though he played less golf, he remained active, often tending to his yard. That same year, he began to show signs of dementia and eventually moved to a Memory Care facility, where he lived until his passing.
Bob will be remembered for his relentless work ethic, his forward-thinking mindset, and his deep commitment to education—not only in his professional life but also in supporting his children and grandchildren throughout their academic journeys.
He is survived by his wife, Maria; siblings, Marilyn and Vic; his three children: Donna (Tim), Todd (Susan), and Lorie (Michael); seven grandchildren: Lindsay, Jason, Josh, Chris, Brandon, and Megan; and eleven great-grandchildren: CJ, Emma M., Ada, Emma B., Gage, Henry, Ellie, Austin, Claire, Charlotte, and Jules.
A Celebration of Life will be held at River Landing Country Club in Wallace, NC, June 27 2025 from 4:00–7:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Hospice House at Lower Cape Fear LifeCare in Wilmington, NC or the NC Alzheimer’s Association.
