Robert Wendell Boyer
Robert Wendell Boyer
August 30, 1936 -- September 15, 2026
Robert "Bob" Wendell Boyer, 90, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at the Sheila S. Strauss Hospice House in Roanoke, Virginia.
Born on August 30, 1936, Bob graduated from The Ohio State University in 1959 and remained a devout Buckeye fan for the next seven decades. On September 12, 1959, he married Lynne (Beck) Boyer, beginning an extraordinary and loving 67-year partnership.
Bob spent more than 30 years with Sears, Roebuck & Co. before retiring. Finding that full retirement didn't quite suit him, he started a second career in 1992, driving cars at the Auto Auction near their home. He stayed on until 2019, when Bob and Lynne moved from Park Forest, Illinois to Salem, Virginia. In Salem, they quickly became staples of the community through First United Methodist Church, the Salem Senior Center, and their cherished Bridge Buddies.
If you knew Bob, you knew his absolute love for music. A gifted bass, he shared his passion with the choirs at First United Methodist Church, the Salem Choral Society, and the Roanoke Valley Music Club Chorus. Oftentimes you could hear Bob before you saw him. If he was in the room or strolling around, he was whistling.
Bob was a fierce card player who loved the thrill of a winning hand just as much as he loved taking a gamble on the hand he was dealt. He loved the outdoors, spotting wildlife, a day of fishing in his younger years, a generous bowl of ice cream, and an occasional glass of red wine.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Lynne; his two daughters, Becky (Joe) McConnell and Nancy (Epi) Vazquez; his five grandchildren Kaitlin (Jon) Davis, Thomas (Emily) McConnell, Megan (Nick) Rotz, Jaclyn (Ryan) Vazquez, and Trevor (Anna) Vazquez, and five great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Charlotte McConnell, James and Winnie Rotz, and Elliot Davis.
A service celebrating Bob’s life will be held Sunday, September 27, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, 125 W. Main Street, Salem, Virginia. Visitation begins at 2:00 PM, with the service to follow at 3:00 PM. Friends and family are invited to stay for light refreshments afterward.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bob’s honor to First United Methodist Church (Salem, VA), Good Samaritan Hospice (Roanoke, VA), or the Salem Choral Society.
