Obituary for John Boardman Jr.
John King Boardman Jr. of Roanoke, Virginia died on Wednesday, July 8, 2020. He was born on October 2, 1929 in Columbus, Ohio to Eleanor Penniman Boardman and John King Boardman Sr. As a boy, John delivered papers and later, while in high school, he worked in the summers on the Ohio State University farm in Columbus. He was an Eagle Scout and played football and basketball at Grandview High School.
In the fall of 1947, he boarded a train to Lexington, Virginia where he entered his freshman year at Washington and Lee University. He was a member of Beta Theta PI Fraternity and editor of the student newspaper, the Ring-Tum Phi. While at W&L, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Moore, on a blind date. Following graduation, he went to Navy OCS in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating as an ensign. He served on the U.S.S. Gearing in the Korean War. He and Marilyn married in 1952, and they were married 62 years until she died in 2014. After he left the Navy in 1954, he worked for the telephone company. In 1955, he went to work for his father-in-law at Sam Moore Furniture Industries in Bedford, Virginia and in 1957 he purchased the company and became president. In the 40 years he served as president, the company grew to become one of the largest upholstered furniture manufacturers in the Southeast. He served on many furniture manufacturing board and was president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association for several years. In 1997, John was honored by the AFMA and received their Outstanding Distinguished Service Award. John believed in serving his community and served both the Bedford School Board and the Bedford Hospital Board.
In 1999, following his retirement and the sale of Sam Moore Furniture Industries, he returned to Washington and Lee University and entered law school at 70 years old. In 2006, he was awarded a Certificate of Achievement with honors after completing all courses for a law degree. He lived the remainder of his life in Roanoke where he enjoyed golf, bridge, spending winters in Florida and working on his beloved farm in Bedford County.
John was passionate about many things, but most especially his love for his four daughters, running his business, his farm and his health. He was an avid runner from an early age and lived with diabetes for over 45 years. John survived cancer, a heart attack, and was even struck by lightning twice in his life and lived to tell the tales. Speaking of telling tales, he was quite the storyteller and loved to tell and retell his funny stories to anyone who would listen.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his wife of 62 years, Marilyn Moore Boardman. He is survived by his four daughters, Scottie Boardman House of Winston-Salem, N.C., Holly Boardman Burton and her husband, Doug, of Apex, N.C., Beth Boardman Grant and her husband, Gregor, of Wayne, Pa., and Cathy Boardman of Atlanta, Ga.; and his brother, William Penniman Boardman and wife, Nancy, of Duxbury, Mass. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, Jim House and wife, Molly, of Raleigh, N.C., Catherine House and husband, Brian Kreher of Winston-Salem, N.C., Grace Burton of Raleigh, N.C., Doug Burton Jr. of Columbia, S.C., John Burton of Pinehurst, N.C., Sheldon and Jack Ennis of Wayne, Pa., and Nora Boardman of Atlanta, Ga. He had three stepgrandchildren, Bryce Grant and wife, Sarah, of Swarthmore, Pa., Rowan Grant of Portland, Ore., and Wallis Grant of Wayne, Pa. He also had three great-grandchildren, Sam, Charlotte and Lilly House of Raleigh, N.C., and he was expecting twin great-granddaughters this fall; three nieces; two great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
His daughters are forever grateful to Edith Bradley for her wonderful care.
A private service for family will be held later this month and a memorial service will be held later in the fall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Bedford Family YMCA and to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
In the fall of 1947, he boarded a train to Lexington, Virginia where he entered his freshman year at Washington and Lee University. He was a member of Beta Theta PI Fraternity and editor of the student newspaper, the Ring-Tum Phi. While at W&L, he met the love of his life, Marilyn Moore, on a blind date. Following graduation, he went to Navy OCS in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating as an ensign. He served on the U.S.S. Gearing in the Korean War. He and Marilyn married in 1952, and they were married 62 years until she died in 2014. After he left the Navy in 1954, he worked for the telephone company. In 1955, he went to work for his father-in-law at Sam Moore Furniture Industries in Bedford, Virginia and in 1957 he purchased the company and became president. In the 40 years he served as president, the company grew to become one of the largest upholstered furniture manufacturers in the Southeast. He served on many furniture manufacturing board and was president of the American Furniture Manufacturers Association for several years. In 1997, John was honored by the AFMA and received their Outstanding Distinguished Service Award. John believed in serving his community and served both the Bedford School Board and the Bedford Hospital Board.
In 1999, following his retirement and the sale of Sam Moore Furniture Industries, he returned to Washington and Lee University and entered law school at 70 years old. In 2006, he was awarded a Certificate of Achievement with honors after completing all courses for a law degree. He lived the remainder of his life in Roanoke where he enjoyed golf, bridge, spending winters in Florida and working on his beloved farm in Bedford County.
John was passionate about many things, but most especially his love for his four daughters, running his business, his farm and his health. He was an avid runner from an early age and lived with diabetes for over 45 years. John survived cancer, a heart attack, and was even struck by lightning twice in his life and lived to tell the tales. Speaking of telling tales, he was quite the storyteller and loved to tell and retell his funny stories to anyone who would listen.
He was predeceased by his parents, and his wife of 62 years, Marilyn Moore Boardman. He is survived by his four daughters, Scottie Boardman House of Winston-Salem, N.C., Holly Boardman Burton and her husband, Doug, of Apex, N.C., Beth Boardman Grant and her husband, Gregor, of Wayne, Pa., and Cathy Boardman of Atlanta, Ga.; and his brother, William Penniman Boardman and wife, Nancy, of Duxbury, Mass. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, Jim House and wife, Molly, of Raleigh, N.C., Catherine House and husband, Brian Kreher of Winston-Salem, N.C., Grace Burton of Raleigh, N.C., Doug Burton Jr. of Columbia, S.C., John Burton of Pinehurst, N.C., Sheldon and Jack Ennis of Wayne, Pa., and Nora Boardman of Atlanta, Ga. He had three stepgrandchildren, Bryce Grant and wife, Sarah, of Swarthmore, Pa., Rowan Grant of Portland, Ore., and Wallis Grant of Wayne, Pa. He also had three great-grandchildren, Sam, Charlotte and Lilly House of Raleigh, N.C., and he was expecting twin great-granddaughters this fall; three nieces; two great-nieces; and one great-nephew.
His daughters are forever grateful to Edith Bradley for her wonderful care.
A private service for family will be held later this month and a memorial service will be held later in the fall.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Bedford Family YMCA and to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.