Gerald Boone, 76, Beloved Husband, Father and Grandfather

He was in the loving care of Sandra Bodean, her family and Crossroads Hospice.

He was born in Elyria in 1938 to Richard D. and Josephine W. Boone (nee Van Niel) but lived in Lorain all his life. He graduated from Clearview High School in 1956. While in high school, he was active in the dramatic arts, winning a state thespian award for his role as George in the school’s production of “Our Town”. He also had parts in plays with the Workshop Players in Amherst.

After attending Kent State University, he served with the US Army Ohio National Guard. He worked at the Lorain Ford Assembly Plant retiring in 1997 after 37 � years of service.

Jerry’s main interest was collecting license plates and attending collector’s meets and conventions. He hosted many meets and attended numerous conventions in the United States with his family and in England and Holland with his wife Betty. He was a member of the ALPCA (Automobile License Plate Collectors Association) holding the office of Membership Chairman and of EuroPlate where he held the office of President for 4 years. In 1986, he traveled to the South Pacific, visiting many islands of Micronesia in pursuit of license plates. He eventually began designing plates for some of the islands.

He was also a railroad enthusiast, building a working garden railway in his backyard. He had many interests and hobbies including Civil War history, Genealogy, gardening, planting flowers and tending to his collection of Bonsai. Most of all, he was a devoted family man whose greatest joy was his grandchildren. He enjoyed attending family functions.

Jerry was a member of the former Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain where he served as an usher and Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of Holy Trinity Seniors, Holy Trinity Holy Name Society and St. John/Holy Trinity Lodge #228. He was currently a member of the Church of St. Peter in Lorain.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years Betty Jane Boone (nee Drop), daughters Karen (John) Forgacs of Wellington, Diane (Carlos) Santos of Largo, FL, Cheryl (Neil) Rochette and Cynthia (Donald) Sams, all of Lorain and Deborah (Fred) Riley of Amherst, 10 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren and brother William (LaSheliea) Boone of Lorain. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Robert Boone in 2013.

The family will receive friends Wednesday 3-8 pm at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain where the St. John/Holy Trinity Lodge #228 will recite the rosary Wednesday at 6:00 pm. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:30 am in the funeral chapel followed by the mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am at the Church of St. Peter, 3501 Oberlin Ave, Lorain. The Rev. Edward Luca will officiate. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.

Memorial contributions can be made to the family to be distributed to Jerry’s favorite charities.

Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net