William David Boyer

Bill passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 11, 2025, due to complications from Alzheimer's disease. Bill was born on April 25, 1951, in San Diego, California. In 1953, the family moved to Dallas, Texas, where his father worked for the U.S. Mint as an engraver. They moved back to San Diego in 1960, and Bill lived there for most of his life. In 2023, he moved to Belen, New Mexico, to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law.

After graduating from Stephen W. Kearny High School in 1969, he joined the U.S. Army, where he specialized in electronics and communications in the Signal Corps. He served a tour in Vietnam and was honorably discharged.

Bill was naturally mechanically inclined and had a rewarding career as a Master Machinist, starting with Ryan Aeronautical and, through company mergers, working for Teledyne-Ryan before retiring with Northrop Grumman. He was a skilled mechanic and was known in his neighborhood as the local handyman who could fix or "MacGyver" just about anything.

Bill also worked as a licensed pyrotechnician, doing fireworks events around Southern California, including shows for SeaWorld. Two highlights of his fireworks career were shows in Washington, D.C., for Reagan's Second Inaugural and a trip to Australia for their bicentennial.

Bill was an avid adventurer and loved active outdoor activities. He loved sailing, boating, hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, hot air ballooning, and traveling with his dog in his "classic" motorhome.

During his retirement, Bill volunteered at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego Harbor. Employing his machinist skills, he fabricated and machined parts for the historic aircraft displays. He was well known aboard the ship, mainly for his dog Rusty, who was his constant companion. Rusty had his own ID badge and was even recognized twice as the Volunteer of the Month.

Bill is survived by his brother, John and his wife, Sherry: brother, Donald and his wife, Connie; nephew, Patrick Boyer; and his nieces, Kelly and Robin Boyer. He was preceded in death by his father, David Wade Boyer; his mother, Carolyne Virginia Foutz (née Milner); his stepfather, Stuart Russell Foutz; his beloved dogs, Daisy and Rusty; and his cat, Rabbit.

Services will take place on Monday, Ocotber 6, 2025, at 2:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.

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