Harry Clay Boggs, 84 - Spencer

(12/01/2012)
HARRY CLAY BOGGS, 84, of Spencer, passed away on Friday, November 30, 2012 at Roane General Hospital. He was the only son of the late Ralph Clay and Rebecca Lavada Boggs. He was a 1946 graduate of Spencer High School, a 1952 graduate of Lincoln Welding School in Cleveland, Ohio, and a 1993 graduate of the University of Hard Knocks of Alderson-Broadus University. He was the owner and CEO of Boggs Natural Gas.

His passion was flying and during his lifetime built two airports. The last being "Boggs Field" located on Spring Creek. He started his flying at age 16 under the instruction of Don Shafer and Leon Stump.

He attained his Private, Twin-Engine, Commercial, Instrument, and Helicopter licenses. He also built one of his planes from a kit. He was a member of the Roane County Flying Club, being president for 20 years, and the Civil Air Patrol.

In 2001 he was named Roane County's "Citizen of the Year."

He was a kind, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, neighbor, and friend who will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty Jean Richards Boggs; five children- Theresa Ann Boggs Parker (Larry) of Walton, Richard Clay Boggs (Debra) of Spencer, Nancy Jean Boggs Hapney (Lonnie) of Greer, South Carolina, Jeffery Cabot Boggs (Ravenna) of Morgantown, and Gregory Allen Boggs (Sati) of Spencer; special "son" Paul Ashby of Fairmont.

Sixteen grandchildren-Carey Ann Parker Antill (Tim) of Fleming, Ohio, Jill Renee Parker Wild (Randy) of Bend, Oregon, Timothy Preston Parker (Rita) of Parkersburg, Jeremy David Parker (Jillian) of Beckley, Leanna Michelle Parker of Alexandria, Virginia, Brianna Amelia Boggs Sieja (Andrew) of Alabama, Kendra Lisanne Boggs McAlpine (Keith) of Iowa, Courtney Layne Boggs Timbrell of Spencer, Caitlin Rochelle Boggs Windland (Tim) of New Jersey, Kristina Lynn Hapney Lipscomb (Andrew) of Simpsonville, South Carolina, Julia Rebecca Hapney of Burbank, California, Marvella Roseanne Boggs of Morgantown, Myridia Mae Boggs of Bakersfield, California, Mikinzy Cabot Boggs of Morgantown, Kiran Anderson Boggs and Suraya Alaina Boggs of Spencer.

Sixteen great-grandchildren-Brittany Ann Antill Legleitner (Darrin), Kimberly Gayle Antill Norris (RJ), Austin Glen Antill, Parker River Wild, Vienna Sky Wild, Levi Drew Parker, Holden Steinbeck Parker, Madison Graceann Parker, Evanna Jane Parker, Oliver Hale Sieja, Edith Amelia Sieja, Alex Clay McAlpine, Jesse Clay McAlpine, Nathan Clay McAlpine, Gwendolyn Ann Timbrell, and Miriam Bryn Timbrell. Three great-great-grandchildren-Devon James Legleitner, Dylan James Legleitner, and Victoria Ann Norris; sisters- Marian Augusta Boggs Mace of Kingwood, Effie Mae Boggs Creamer of Hilltop Lakes, Texas, Unabelle Rebecca Boggs of Akron, Ohio, and Mildred Gail Boggs Popp of Reno, Ohio; aunts-Alice Boggs Schaller and Naomi Morton; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers-in-law-Glynn Creamer and Lawrence Mace.

Service will be Monday, December 3, 2012 at 1:00pm at the Taylor-Vandale Funeral Home in Spencer with Rev. Mike King and Rev. Garry Bowen officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, December 2, 2012 from 3:00 to 6:00pm. Burial will be at the Boggs Cemetery on Airfield Road in Spencer with a time of fellowship immediately following the cemetery at Boggs Field.

In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to the Spencer Advent Christian Church, P.O. Box 827, Spencer, WV 25276.

Online condolences may be sent to taylor.vandale@frontier.com