Zola Mae BOSTER

Walter Jul 9, 1920 Tyrone, Texas, MO
May 7, 2014

Zola
May 23, 1921 Picher, OK
May 12, 2006 Houston, Texas, MO

Walter Delbert Boster, 93, of Tyrone, MO, passed away May 7th, 2014. He was born to Rueben (Doc) and Ollie Aldridge Boster, July 9th, 1920, on the family farm at Tyrone, MO. Walter completed the 8th grade at the Grandview School. He married Zola Williams March 23, 1945 and they enjoyed 61 years of marriage together in Tyrone, MO.
Walter was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his son David Boster, half-brother Gregory Aldridge, sister Martha Culler, two brothers Joe Boster and Sherman Boster, daughter-in-law Lesta Boster, son-in-law Gail (Bear) Crumrine and infant great-granddaughter Abby Boster.
He is survived by daughters; Linda McGiboney, Carolyn Pounds and her husband Barkus, Mary Barnes and her husband John, grandsons; Jimmy Pounds and his wife Missy, Mark Pounds and his wife Stephanie, Jason Pounds, Michael McGiboney, Matt McGiboney and his wife Karen, A.J. Barnes, Andy Boster and his wife Angie, Joey Boster, one granddaughter Amanda Jensen and her husband Jesse, nine great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, two step-great-great grandchildren, and numerous family friends including Rosalee Jones, Donna Jones McConnaughhay, and Doyle Lay.
Walter was not an avid churchgoer, but believed strongly in Jesus. He encouraged his children to attend church and acted his faith through hard work and helping those in need, believing he was closer to God working on the land than sitting in a church.
Walter, known as Papa to his grandchildren, grew up during the great depression and learned hard-work and bartering as a means of survival at an early age. These two skills were put to the test in 1936 when he planted 4,900 tomato plants to sell to the local cannery. The only problem was the cannery closed down before he could sell his tomatoes. In true Papa fashion, of not letting anything go to waste, he managed to parlay his bumper tomato crop into old barn wood and anything else he could make use of in the future.
As World War II broke out he reported to the draft board where he was told that he was more useful to the war effort farming than fighting. He took this to heart and worked tirelessly milking cows.
Papa would farm in Tyrone, MO. his entire life. He began with 40 acres, and continued to expand his farm often paying for the land with profits he made by cutting firewood. A portion of the land that Walter farmed was homesteaded by his father and grandfather beginning in 1877.
He worked his land with horses, most notably the Belgians named Bob and Dolly, until the late 1950s, when he bought his first tractor from Ted Scheets. Papa took great pride in the fact that this tractor was the last thing he ever bought on credit.
Papa milked cows for 50 years. A testament to his respect for the land and the animals that he worked, was that he ensured the milk cows were sold to family to continue to be milked instead of being sold to slaughter.
Papa loved the farm and this area. When on a trip to Georgia to visit family he was asked if he wanted to see the ocean since they were so close, he replied that he figured he had lived this long without seeing it he didn't figure he needed to now. He was always happiest on the farm working, reading a western after a hard day of work, or visiting with his family and friends.
He built all the barns on his land and dug the ponds himself with either horse or tractor. In fact, much of the lumber used on the farm came from the farm itself. Walter never wasted anything. For example, when told that an oak tree was no good, he cut it anyway and it yielded enough stave bolts to buy another 40 acres. In recent years, as he became physically unable to do the farm work, he still took great joy from being driven around the land by one of his daughters, son-in-laws, or grandchildren to check on the land and cattle.
Anyone who arrived at Papa's house only had themselves to blame if they left hungry. Food was offered to anyone that arrived, and you'd might as well accept the first time, because he would insist until you agreed. Anyone that has driven by his farm during the summertime could not help but notice his garden. Papa forbid vegetables to be sold from the garden, believing that it was meant for feeding people and that if you sold from it God would not allow it to grow.
Papa led his life in a way that instilled the values of hard work and faith to his family and all those that came into contact with him. He was greatly admired and will be greatly missed.

Zola Mae Boster, 85, daughter of Simon and Annis Culpen Williams, was born March 23, 1921, at Picher, Okla. She died May 12, 2006, at Houston House after a lengthy illness.
Due to the early death of her parents, she was raised by family and friends.
At age 16, she moved to St. Louis, where she was a nanny for Dr. and Mrs. Quintin Gaines. While living there, she finished her education and became an LPN.
She married Walter Boster March 23, 1945. They shared 61 years on the farm near Tyrone.
Mrs. Boster was a member of Grandview Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school, enjoyed singing hymns and working in Bible school.
In later years, she became a member of Ozark Baptist Church, where she attended as long as her health permitted.
Mrs. Boster was active in the Grandview and Tyrone communities, assisting those who were sick, at deaths, childbirth and any way she was needed.
Her hobbies included sewing, ceramics, old movies, traveling and her home and family.
Surviving are her husband; three daughters, Linda McGiboney of Mountain Grove and Carolyn Pounds and Mary Barnes of Houston; one son, David Boster of Elk Creek; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and Donna Jones McConnaughhay, who considered her a second mom.
Services were May 16 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kendall Ford officiating. Burial was in the Tyrone Cemetery.

Contributed on 1/4/15 by mjrwag
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Record #: 761891

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