-For nearly six decades, USAF Ret. Msg. Willie Vinzell Boyd, LUTCF was well-known in the Lompoc Valley, and for 81 years he continues to be loved by many people worldwide. "Boyd" passed away at his home of 35 years in Fresno, California on September 24th and will be laid to rest in Lompoc this week starting with a 4pm to 7pm closed casket viewing and a photo slideshow at the mortuary on Thursday October 6th, followed by a 10am funeral service at Grace Temple on Friday, October 7th, and a vehicle procession to Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery for the burial ceremony at 11am, then concluding with a 'Celebration of Life' lunch at Grace Temple. You're on your own for the after-party!

Remember 'The Fact' from the late 60's, or how about when the legendary James Brown landed a private jet on Vandenberg AFB just to play two concerts at the NCO Club? Those are a couple of Boyd's flamboyant adventures, and those who knew him -- know many more!

After overseas tours in Greenland, Thailand, England and Germany, Boyd retired from the Air Force as Vandenberg's NCO Club Manager before working as a private contractor in Saudi Arabia, then as the Director of Shipping & Receiving at FMC Corp. in Fresno, and finally retiring from full-time work as a Farmers Insurance Agency owner only to continue working as a semi-retired Notary Public until a couple of years ago.

Born in South Carolina on May 13, 1935 to Jeanette Marie Boyd and John Wesley Boyd, Boyd was raised on 8-Mile Road in Detroit, Mi. with the nickname of "Vin". Willie V. Boyd is survived by his sister Betty Walker of South Carolina, his daughter Nikoi Jeanette Boyd of Lompoc, his son Marcus Wesley Boyd of Imperial Beach, California, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

Send a message here at 619-540-7172 if you'd like a funeral service program to be emailed or mailed to you.