The Life of ROBERT EDWARD BOLES
Robert Edward "Bob" Boles, 78, passed from this life on Friday, July 25, 2008 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 29, at Immanuel United Methodist Church in Des Moines, of which he was a member. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery in Des Moines.
Bob was born on November 18, 1929 in Ocheyedan, IA to Guy Edgar and Bernice Elizabeth Youngdahl Boles. He was a graduate of Sibley High School in Sibley, IA. Bob served as a staff sergeant with the Air Force during the Korean Conflict until 1952, when he transferred to duty with the Air National Guard for nearly 11 years.
On June 27, 1952, Bob married Lennice Lucille "Lennie" Eckstrom in Bangor, ME. Their marriage was blessed with four daughters, Laura, Diane, Sally and Becky. They moved to Des Moines in 1962, where they made their home. Bob was employed as an Outside Plant Engineer with the former Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for nearly 37 years. He was a member of the Board of Directors for both the Shepherd Center and DMARC, a member of the National Association of Credit Union People, the Des Moines Men's Garden Club and the Telephone Pioneers. Bob was also a member of the Transportation Committee for Polk County Senior Citizens.
He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife of 56 years, Lennie Boles of Des Moines; four daughters, Laura (Jim) Ponto of Iowa City, IA, Diane (David Myatt) of Cedarburg, WI, Sally Boles of Story City, IA and Becky Whitlow of Des Moines; two sisters, Betty (Kenneth) Graves of Odessa, MO and Joyce (Bill) Janelle of Corpus Christi, TX; four brothers, Marvin (Winona) Boles of Florence, MO, Jim (Joyce) Boles of Spirit Lake, IA, Dennis (Michelle) Boles of Springdale, AR and Daryl (Lowell) Boles of Bentonville AR; and seven grandchildren, Kevin Ponto, Erin Ponto, Jason Myatt, Lisa Myatt, Rob Myatt, Nathan Whitlow and Jackie Whitlow. Bob was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Myrtle Copland.
The family will greet friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Monday, July 28, at Iles Funeral Homes – Westover Chapel in Des Moines. Memorial contributions may be made to either: Immanuel United Methodist Church, Taylor House Hospice or DMARC.
