Wanda Mae (Arnett) Bolyard passed peacefully at home January 9th, 2021 after living with dementia for over ten years. She was born December 18th, 1934 to Lewis and Goldie (Hines) Arnett in their home in Greenville, Ohio. A self-professed country girl, Wanda milked a cow every morning before attending a one-room schoolhouse for first through eighth grade. She was a graduate of Greenville Senior High School in 1952. She attended Miami Jacobs Business School in Dayton and worked as a secretary in an attorney’s office.
After returning home to Greenville, Wanda was set up on a date to go bowling with Don Bolyard; sparking over 60 years of happy marriage. She worked alongside her husband to start Bolyard Heating & Cooling and to maintain their 160 acre farm. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Europe, but she always said that there was no place like home. She was a kind, gentle and loving mother and grandmother who taught us all that “every day is a good day that God gives you.”
Wanda is preceded in death by her parents Lewis and Goldie (Hines) Arnett, her sister and brother-in-laws Betty Lou and Dwayne Rolfe, and Martha Lee and Gene Riegle; her brother and sister-in-law Willard Lewis and Pat Arnett, and sister-in-law Clara Arnett.
She is survived by her husband, Don, three children and their spouses: Barry and Barb Bolyard; Jeff and Danette Bolyard; and Lisa and Maurice Herron. Wanda is also survived by her brother Andy Joe Arnett, and her sister and brother-in-law Charlene and Roger Black. She has six grandchildren: Steve Bolyard, Bret Bolyard, Rachel Bolyard, Olivia Herron, Clayton Herron and Julia Herron. She also has two great-grandchildren: Cassey Bolyard and Thomas Courtney.
Private Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, January 12th, in the Zechar Bailey Funeral Home, Greenville, Ohio, with Rev. Don Myers officiating. It is the wishes of the family that in lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions be given to State of the Heart Hospice (www.stateoftheheartcare.org/donate) or The Alzheimer’s Association of Miami Valley (www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate). Condolences for the family may be sent to www.zecharbailey.com.
