Richard "Dick" Boyd

Richard (Dick) H. Boyd of Denver, Colorado passed away on Sunday April 23, 2023 after reaching the age of 90 years old. After suffering a mild stroke, dementia, and recent months of failing health, he died peacefully within his memory care home in Aurora, Colorado.

Dick was born on September 10, 1932 in Wheeling, WV to Wilhelmina (Zane) and Hugh Andrew Boyd. As a boy he lived mostly at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind (WVSDB) in Romney, WV.

While attending WVSDB, Dick competed in baseball and football and was a fierce competitor. In 1952, Dick was given honorable mention on the National Fraternity of the Deaf All American football team playing halfback and end for the Romney “Silents” who finished second in the nation. Dick scored 19 touchdowns and 16 extra points in eight games and carried the ball 42 times for 950 yards. In 1997, he received the WVSDB Hall of Fame award.

Dick met Irene A. Ancharuk (his future wife) at WVDB, where they both attended school from first grade to graduation. In 1953, he married Irene, the love of his life, and they lived together inseparably for almost 59 years raising three children, and he loved being a grandfather!

Dick graduated from WVSDB majoring in linotyping, a composing machine producing lines of words as single strips of metal, used chiefly to print newspapers. As a young man he learned to work hard at major city newspapers and to take on whatever job was available to support himself and his family. Beginning 1960, Dick migrated west and worked at several major newspaper cities until he arrived in Denver (1961) and declared Denver would be his family’s future home. Dick had over a 35+ year career working for the Rocky Mountain News and retired with the Denver Post in 1997, after the two independent newspapers merged.

Dick and Irene traveled the world extensively, experiencing many continents, visiting all 50 states of the USA with international visits to Germany, Italy, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Panama Canal, Puerto Rico, Easter Island, Mexico, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Canada, and Saint Croix.

Dick enjoyed many hobbies and sports, including poker, bowling and playing/coaching softball for the Silent Athletic Club in Denver.

Dick loved to be with family and was always up for a picnic, reunion or gathering of friends. He was a good father who always took care of his children and did the best he could to teach and guide them, a loving grandfather and great-grandfather to many.

Dick was a strong, proud and good man. He is loved and will be missed by many!

Dick is preceded in death by parents, Hugh and Wilhemina Boyd, brother Orloff (Dorothy) Boyd, and sisters Betty (Mickey) Newman and Gloria (Wilbur) Asbury.

Dick is survived by his 3 adult children, Marvin (Christy) Boyd of Colorado Springs, CO, Karen Boyd (Johnny Saddlery) of Boulder, CO, Cheri (George) Stewart of Guam; 10 Grandchildren; 6 Great Grandchildren; sister Patty (Paul) Weil of Zephyrhills, FL; a host of nieces, nephews and other beloved friends and relatives; and beloved extended family.

A memorial service will not be held at Dick’s request.

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