David “Dave” William Boyd
1949 – 2023
Dr. David William Boyd was honored with a Heavenly homecoming on September 12, 2023. Dave was born April 17, 1949, in Ainsworth, NE to parents Rex and Mary Belle. He graduated from Wichita West High School in 1967, lettering in football, basketball, and track. In June 1969, he married his high school sweetheart, Karen. After graduating from the University of Nebraska College of Dentistry, they started a pediatric dental practice in Bartlesville, OK, where they raised five children and served their church and community.
He is preceded in death by parents, Dr. Rex & Mary Belle Boyd, and sister, Janie. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Karen; five children and their spouses, Derek, Deren & Monica, Dagen & Michelle, Kylee & Rick, and Danen & Michele; thirteen grandchildren; siblings, Steve and Julie, and his faithful retriever, Cappy.
He was the oldest of four kids… Dave, Steve, Julie, Janie.
He is in the Wichita West High School Athletic Hall of Fame… inducted in 2017.
He played football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers… 1970 national champions.
He married his high school sweetheart… and loved her for 58 years.
He was an amazing athlete… he fathered five children who are average at best.
He was a pediatric dentist for 36 years… despite having fingers the size of bananas.
He was kind, hilarious, generous, and loved serving others.
He played the banjo, kind of.
He loved working with his hands… and he could build anything.
He created a home focused on welcoming and entertaining his kids and their friends.
He was Superman to his five kids… and known by his grandkids as Griz (a la Clark Griswold).
He loved Jesus… and was a good and faithful servant.
We will celebrate his Heavenly homecoming Monday, September 18 at 1:00 PM in the chapel at Crossings Community Church located at 14600 Portland Ave in Oklahoma City. If you can join us, please wear something red.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rock Steady Boxing to support their Parkinson’s rehab program. rocksteadyboxing.org/donate
We will be live streaming this service in an effort to accommodate those people that wish to attend but are not able to. To watch the service please follow this link: https://vimeo.com/event/3708855/3489d5f613 .
We are so deeply sorry for this tremendous loss in your family. Dave was such a kind soul and we know he will be greatly missed. We love you guys.
Karen and Kids, so sorry for the loss of Dave, it’s like our history disappearing. Keep his memory alive by speaking his name and telling his stories.
Karen and family, Dave was one of the good ones. So sorry to hear of his passing.
Sorry for you loss. I loved playing football with him at WICHITA WEST HIGH school. CLASS OF 67. WE WERE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD. GREAT MAN. LIVED A GREAT LIFE.RONALD
David was always so much fun to be around in school. Was so sorry to hear of his passing. I know he will be greatly missed. Prayers to the family.
Royalty never dies. He was one of those that will be remembered by many because his kindness to others started so young. While out of he and Karen’s lives after high school graduation it is obvious through stories that he continued to hold others high above himself. What a blessing for everyone who has known him. He made so many of us proud at one point or other in our lives. Love you, Karen, thinking of you always. It’s as if you were still just right around the corner. You were my first grade school friend and you may not know it, but also my 1st Facebook friend
So sorry for your loss. I will always remember how he was dentist to the mouths of many children in Bartlesville, including my brother and myself. In later years on appointments to his office, I remember telling him jokes, and how he always got a great laugh. I remember his involvement with K Life in Bartlesville,including riding in one of his conversion vans to Big Splash (now Paradise Beach) in Tulsa. I remember the hospitality of his home from everything from pick up basketball games in his driveway, to K Life Bible Study, to working on a project for our study of Macbeth my senior year. I also remember his work on the sets for and helping backstage at our high school musicals, including Fiddler on the Roof. Aeternam Habeas Requiem, (May you have eternal rest), Dr. Boyd. You will be missed.
Such a kind man, and gentle giant. He made every child who sat in his dental chair feel special. I didn’t know there were pediatric dentists until we moved to Bartlesville and David set the bar high. Karen and kids, we are so sad to hear this news.
Dave was a man of integrity and loved his family to the fullest. We have great memories of working with Dave and Karen on the K-Life Board in Bartlesville. No matter the circumstances, Dave had a way of making everyone’s day a little better. He was one of a kind and we are honored to have been able to call him a friend. Our loss is heaven’s gain. Love to you, Karen and family,
Sharen and Jim Bates
So very very sorry for the loss of an incredible man. He was known throughout Bartlesville as such a nice guy. To Aubree, my daughter, Dave was always Dr Boy. She was kicked out of his pediatric office when she was a junior in college. Prayers for the entire Boyd family.
We will always remember Dave and your family. He was a kind and generous man who loved his family and always took time to help with the youth at church. We are praying for you all.
Karen: Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time. Dave was one of the nicest people, always. I have lots of memories of West High School and the Pioneer days.
I certainly grieve and celebrate at the same time. Dave and Karen were/are wonderful friends. Though. we haven’t been together in many years, for five years we worked closely together in ministry. Dave and Karen co-wrote many Christmas Celebrations and Celebrations of Freedom where thousands of people had a fresh encounter with Christ and numerous people found Jesus for the first time. We learned to color way outside the box of tradition without compromising the truth of The Gospel. Those five years helped to launch a thirty-eight year ministry of great Celebrations where the house was full to overflowing in Bartlesville to packed houses in Florida and Georgia. Great crowds are made up of individuals and each person has a story. Dave and Karen were part of every fresh encounter and decision for Christ.
Dorothy and I are so very honored to call Dave and Karen precious friends, eternal friends. I understand the great loss, but I also celebrate with each of you the amazing legacy of The Griz. Boyds, you are loved.
Dear Karen and family,
So sorry to hear of your loss of Dave. I have many good memories of our West High sports experiences. My most vivid memory was after a fall football game, when we met at the burger stand on West St. I was exhausted from the cross-country race I ran a few hours earlier. Dave came through the door looking like he had just survived a car wreck. I thought, if I’m this tired from an 11 minute race, what must he feel like after getting tackled for two hours!
From your vimeo Homecoming service, I can see that he had a very good life. I feel fortunate that I was able to see the two of you last October at our 55th reunion.
Sincerely,
Carl Ellison