William Henry “Bill” Bolyard, 86, of Porter Shaffer Road, Philippi, formerly of Fellowsville, died Monday, November 11, 2013, in the Davis Memorial Hospital, Elkins, following an extended illness. He was born November 19, 1926, near Fellowsville, a son of the late Josiah Benjamin and Nora Elizabeth (Nice) Bolyard. Survivors include two sisters, Dolly Marie Knotts, Tunnelton, Katherine Bodkins, Hermitage, Tenn., one brother, Paul Bolyard, New Oxford, Penn. and a host of nieces and nephews. One of a family of eighteen children, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Isabella Halbritter, Ellen Hudson, Stella May Bolyard, Esther Jane Bolyard and Anna Louise Bolyard and by nine brothers, Raymond Elsworth Bolyard, Edward Lee Bolyard, Guy Bolyard, Cecil Bolyard, John Albert Bolyard, Harry Bolyard, Pete Bolyard, Lester Bolyard and Lawrence Bolyard. Mr. Bolyard had never married and for much of his adult life had made his home with his brother, Raymond and family and although he considered his nieces and nephews his “children” and their children his “grandchildren”, he was considered a second father by Raymond’s children, Raymond “Sonny” Bolyard Jr., Mary Piper and Penny (Eric) Canfield, with whom he had made his home for three years prior to becoming a resident at the Barbour County Good Samaritan Center. He was a life long farmer and was a former coal miner and logger. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed riding his tractor, listening to “Country Music” and visiting with his family. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Saturday, November 15, from the Schoonover – Stemple Funeral Chapel, 609 Crim Avenue, Belington. The Rev. David Melquist will officiate and interment will follow in the Mt. View Cemetery, near Tunnelton. Friends may call at the funeral home from 4:00 until 9:00 P.M. on Friday and from 9:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M., the funeral hour, on Saturday. Schoonover – Stemple Funeral Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.
