Earnest H. Boyd

Earnest Hardy Boyd was born in Syracuse, NY, the son of Susan Jones Boyd and Frederick Chester Boyd. The family moved to Baltimore when Earnie was a young child. He attended public elementary schools, and Baltimore City College High School. He graduated from Baltimore Junior College and Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College). After serving in the US Army, he worked for the Martin Co., then took a position at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. With his wife Natalie, son Alan, and daughter Barbara, he moved to Bel Air in 1960. At APG he worked as a project engineer (and acquired his love of computers) until his retirement in 1988.

Earnie became involved with the St. Margaret School when his children were students there. His volunteer efforts in St. Margaret Parish ranged from painting classrooms to hosting study groups and more recently from helping with capital fund raising campaigns to facilitating small faith sharing groups. In the 1980's he helped revamp the school's computer program by putting together the first Heathkit PCs. He also helped to chair the St. Margaret Centennial Celebration in 2005 which included many special events and programs.

While Earnie's other activities included being a contract bridge player, amateur radio operator, Little League coach, membership in the Bel Air Optimist Club where he assisted in the Bel Air Annual 4th of July celebration, his primary contribution to church and community was teaching dance classes. He became interested in dancing during the time that polka music was popular in the Baltimore area. He taught "Polka Hop" classes as a fund raising activity for the St. Margaret Home and School Association. Then his interest in dancing branched out to all forms of social and line dancing. For thirty years Earnie and his wife Natalie taught dance classes at St. Margaret, several other churches, senior centers, and Knights of Columbus and American Legion halls. In addition Earnie performed volunteer DJ work at these places. He continued to teach a line dance class at the Highland Community Center in Street until very recently.

In 2006 Earnie received a certificate of recognition for being a nominee as "Harford's Most Beautiful Person." He was a member of the Bel Air Council Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post 39, and the International Polka Association.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Natalie, son Alan, daughter Barbara and son-in­ law John Ward, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Margaret School, 205 Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014.