Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024, at McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada for Ronald Alfred Boswell, 88, of Grenada, who died on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at his residence. Burial followed in Grenada Memorial Gardens. Bro. Ben McAnally officiated. The family received friends from noon until the hour of the service on Saturday, Jan. 27, at McKibben and Guinn.
Ron was born Oct. 3, 1935, in Toledo, Ill., the son of the late Hubert and the late Murnia (Gaston) Boswell. After graduating from Bloomington High School in Bloomington, Ill., Ron married his first wife, Laeuna, and later moved to Grenada where she was from. Though born and raised a Yankee, Ron was a Southern boy at heart. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and gardener, who loved spending time outside. He was also known to tear up the dance floor in his later life always rocking his cowboy boots.
Ron worked as a machinist at Randall Textron for 33 years even staying on after retirement there and McQuay teaching his trade to the younger generation. He attended Southside Church of Christ with his loving wife, Jo Ann, of 14 years. They enjoyed fishing, playing dominoes with friends and watching his favorite Westerns together. Ron will be remembered as a soft-spoken, gentle soul, who persevered even through difficult times.
In addition to his parents, his first wife, Laeuna; four brothers, Charles Boswell, Kenneth Wayne Boswell, Steven Boswell and infant brother, Max, and two sisters, Stella Jacobs and Betty Murphy, preceded Ron in death.
Survivors include, his wife, Jo Ann; his son, Michael Rex (Kathy) Boswell of Water Valley; his daughters, Pam (Hank) Davis and Angie Richardson, all of Grenada; stepchildren, William (Pam) Hinds of Clinton, Ark., Joe Derrick (Denise) Hinds of Neosho, Mo., and Staci (Wade) McVay of Searcy, Ark.; one brother, Donald (Linda) Boswell of Godfrey, Ill.; four sisters, Leona Albert of LeRoy, Ill., Bonnie Karr of Clinton, Ill., Nova Friend of El Paso, Ill., and Juanita Whitehouse of Gibson City, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren with another sweet addition on the way, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Samy McCracken, Jerry Taylor, Jay Carpenter, Randy Denley, John Terry and Malcolm Grant. Honorary pallbearers were Hank Davis and Wade McVay.
The family wishes to thank AccentCare Home Health and AccentCare Hospice for the care and support they have provided Ron and the family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or your charity of choice.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada was in charge of arrangements.
