Alexander Boles
Alexander Boles

South Royalton, Vt. — Alexander E. Boles, 85 died Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, at the Elm Wood Center in Claremont, N.H., where he resided for the past year. He was born Jan. 1, 1932, in South Royalton, Vt. the son of John I. and Elizabeth M. (Rowell) Boles. He attended school in South Royalton and later while in the service earned his GED. He was surprised to receive his diploma (45 years later) in 1997, at his granddaughter, Jessica’s graduation.

He was drafted into the army, and fought in the Korean War from 1953-54.

On June 30, 1956, he married Dorothea Boone of Tunbridge, Vt. They lived all their married life in South Royalton.

He had worked for the railroad as a teenager, for E.F. Tucker Tree Company as a tree topper, for Bayer-Magola Construction, Inc., under Ralph Clark building interstate bridges in Mass., Laveana Construction Company in Rutland, building Grand Union Stores, and for many years he ran his own concrete construction/excavating company. He enjoyed working and never retired. About seven years ago, a stroke left him unable to go to work, however he was still able to give great advice when asked. Thanks to great care given by his family, mainly his son, Lucky, and then his granddaughter, Jessica, Alex was able to stay at home until last year.

He was a member of V.F.W. Post # 2571 and American Legion Post # 26 both in White River Jct.. He enjoyed horseshoes in Sharon, cards with friends, dancing, watching his daughter, and granddaughters play basketball, growing vegetables in his garden, logging, and sawing out boards with his portable mill.

Alex should be remembered most for his generosity. He was always there to lend a hand to someone in need, or to help his family and friends. He embodied the meaning of “friendship!”

He is survived by his wife of sixty years, Dorothea Boles of South Royalton; four sons, Demetrus Boles of South Royalton, Lucky Boles of Phoenix, Ariz., Robin Boles (Ellen) 0f Tunbridge, and Michael Boles (Valerie) of Sharon, Vt.; a daughter, Monica Clark (Rod) of South Royalton; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren, a brother, Mathew Boles of Tunbridge; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by six brothers, John Boles, Donald Boles, Robert Boles, Ernest Boles, Leslie Boles and Frank Boles; two sisters, Louise Churchill and Gena Britch.

Calling hours will be held, Friday, Feb. 24, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Boardway & Cilley Funeral Home, 300 VT RT 110, Chelsea, Vt. A graveside funeral service with full military honors will be held later this spring at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center, Vt.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the South Royalton Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 204, South Royalton, VT 05068. A private message of sympathy for the family can be shared at www.boardwayandcilley.com.