Obituary of Dr. George J. "Doc" Boyles

Dr. George J. “Doc” Boyles, 92, passed away Nov. 11 in the presence of his family. Born in Benton’s Ferry in 1928, “Doc” dedicated his entire life to improving the communities of Marion County. After graduating from East Fairmont High School in 1946, “Doc” continued his education at Fairmont State College, where he received an education degree with teaching fields in chemistry and biology. While attending Fairmont State, he met the former Doris E. Barr, whom he married in 1953. He received his Doctoral of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Maryland, graduating in 1953. Serving generations of Marion County families, “Doc” practiced dentistry in Fairmont for 62 years. In addition to his long-standing private dental practice (which he operated for 28 years with his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Glenn Boyles and Dr. Laura Withers-Boyles), he worked as Director of Dental Services at Wishing Well Health Homes and at the Marion County Health Department. “Doc” also served as a dentist in the United States Army at the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He was stationed at Fort Myer, Virginia, where he received an honorable discharge in 1956. Beyond his distinguished professional career, “Doc” was a dedicated public servant. He was first elected to the Marion County Board of Education in 1966. He continued serving on the board for more than three decades -- including two terms as the board’s president and two terms as its vice president. A self-described “bulldog” for the “boys and girls” of Marion County, “Doc” visited seven to eight schools every Thursday to hear directly from teachers and service personnel how he could improve the quality of education for students. During his tenure, he provided oversight of 14 major renovation projects, including construction of the new East Fairmont High School in 1993. “Doc” was also a man driven by his faith. He was a lifelong member of Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, where he taught an adult Sunday School class for decades until his death in 2020. He also looked forward to seeing his friends and staff each morning at the East Side McDonald’s and to watching televised Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games and WVU sports. But of all his joys in life, he cherished his family the most. He is preceded in death by his parents, George W. and Cora Rae Boyles; brothers, Charles E. and Theodore W., and sister, Vanda Tibbs. He is survived by Doris, his loving wife of 67 years, “Doc” was a devoted father to his three sons -- George (and his wife, Kay), Gary (and his wife, Donna) and Dr. Glenn (and his wife, Dr. Laura), all of Fairmont. He was also a proud grandfather to five grandchildren, including: Dr. Jan Lauren Boyles, of Ames, Iowa; Jeff Boyles (and his wife, Danielle), of Fairmont; Andrew Boyles, of Belpre, Ohio; Dr. MacKenzie Boyles-Horan (and her husband, Dr. Sean), of Morgantown and Catherine Misour (and her husband, Kyle), of Pittsburgh -- as well as four great grandchildren, including Julian, Hudson and Parker Boyles, and Guy Horan. Memorial donations may be made in “Doc’s” memory to Valley Chapel United Methodist Church, 1511 Pleasant Valley Road, Fairmont, WV 26554 and the Marion County Senior Center, 105 Maplewood Drive, Fairmont, WV 26554. The family has entrusted his funeral arrangements to Ford Funeral Home, 201 Columbia Street, Fairmont, WV 26554. All funeral services will be held privately with Reverend Jim Norton officiating. Interment will be held privately at the Linn Cemetery in Benton’s Ferry. Online condolences may be made to www.fordfuneralhomes.com.