Boyd S. Ballard

Boyd, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 25, 2026, at the age of 86. Born on May 1, 1940, in Englewood, New Jersey, Boyd's life was a testament to love, dedication, and service. Boyd was the beloved son of the late Joseph Ballard and Bessie McNair Ballard, and was also lovingly raised by his stepmother, Ann Oralee Rucker. He was predeceased by his parents, his dear stepmother, and his sister, Jean Davis. His memory will continue to be cherished by his devoted wife of 57 years, Loretta, his children Nathan, Kevin, Kuan, and Jason, and his cherished daughter-in-law, Laura. Boyd was a proud grandfather to Hadiyah, Corina, Bryce, Gia, Nalani, Mikayla, Kennedy, Brooke, Axol, Jayden, Gianna, Ariana, and Maverick, and a loving great-grandfather to Liana, Alaya, CJ, Alina, and Julien. His nephew, Peter Davis, also mourns his passing. Boyd's life was marked by his service to his country and his community. He joined the US Marine Corps in July 1961 and served honorably until February 1966. Continuing his dedication to service, Boyd was a member of the Army National Guard, where he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant over more than 20 years of military service. In his professional life, Boyd demonstrated a strong work ethic and commitment. He held various positions, including a telephone equipment installer for Western Electric, an electronic technician for Vikoa, and a dedicated worker in the family business, Joe's Meat Market, in Harlem. Boyd spent a significant portion of his career as an Engineering Technician with the NYC Housing Authority from 1970 until 1992, and later with the NYC Transit Authority until his retirement in 2002. Boyd was actively involved in his community, serving as an assistant scoutmaster for two years. His hobbies included fishing, boating, flying simulators, and working with HO scale model trains. Above all, his greatest joy came from spending quality time with his family. A service to celebrate Boyd's life will be held on October 1, 2026, at 2:00 PM at the Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service Inc., located at 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Boyd's memory to the Martin Luther King Multi Purpose Center in Spring Valley, NY. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and support staff at Westchester Medical Center for the exceptional care and dignity they provided to Boyd and for their gracious kindness during his extended stay. Boyd's legacy of love, service, and dedication will be remembered by all who knew him, and his spirit will continue to inspire those he leaves behind.