Boyd Holden Farr 1923-2009

 

Boyd Holden Farr grew up on a dry wheat farm at Arimo, Idaho. In his youth he enjoyed basketball, the clarinet, and Scouting. Born on the 29th of April, 1923, in Downey, Idaho, he was the son of Atherton and Mary Jensen Farr.

 

Above: Once plowed with a team of horses: Part of the Farr family wheat farm at Arimo.

In 1942 Boyd entered the engineering program at the University of Utah, where he met the love of his life, Winona Christensen.

When Boyd's college deferment was lifted in the spring of 1944, he enlisted in the Navy's electronics training program. After graduation Boyd was assigned to the USS Healy, a destroyer which escorted the Battleship New Jersey through numerous engagements, including Guam, Wake Island, and Okinawa. The USS Healy acted as harbor control vessel in Tokyo Harbor while the treaty ending the war with Japan was signed.

On 11 May, 1946, he and Nonie were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple by President George Albert Smith. They moved to the San Francisco Bay area, where Boyd worked for RCA. He served as RCA's field representative for the western part of the United States.

While working for RCA, Boyd helped introduce television, and later assisted in the introduction of the 45 rpm record player in Philadelphia.

After retiring from RCA Boyd became an entrepreneur, starting two different companies, Service West and, with his son, Randal, Ogment Group. During his golden years Boyd enjoyed serving with Nonie as ordinance workers in the LDS Oakland Temple, calling this "a most enjoyable experience." He spent the later years of his life serving his church and his family.

Boyd is survived by his wife Winona, and their children Kipley Atherton Farr, Valerie Mary Farr Bosworth, and Randal Boyd Farr, his sister Persis Farr Thomas, eight grandchildren; Michael, Rachel, Emma, Elizabeth, Abram, Tessa, and Ethan Farr, and Gregory Evans, as well as nine great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters, Winona Aimee and Pia Hi'ilani, and one great grandchild.

Graveside services were held in Arimo, Idaho, on Saturday, November 7th, 2009, with military rites.

The flag ceremony at Boyd's funeral in Arimo, Idaho:




Boyd (front row, middle) with family, rafting on the Salmon River in 2003 (as usual, clik on the stills for bigger versions):

 

What a ride!

Boyd Holden Farr, of Lafayette, California, died Wednesday, October 28th, 2009, at Kaiser Permanente Hospital, Walnut Creek, CA.

A slightly different version of this appeared in the Idaho State Journal, November 5th, 2009

UPDATE 2014: I no longer remember who wrote the above obituary, but I think it was Kip. I mostly added the photos and video.