Boyd Gilby Warrant Officer (Ret’d) Royal Canadian Air Force

Boyd passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 24, 2025. We take solace in knowing that he is no longer suffering and are thankful for a life well lived and so many happy memories. 

Boyd was born March 20, 1942 in Truro, Nova Scotia, where he lived with his parents, three brothers, and three sisters until enlisting with the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1960. He completed training as a loadmaster on the C-130 Hercules and embarked on many adventures with his flight crew. He logged enough flight hours to circle the globe twice, traveling to all corners of the world from Tahiti to Thule, Greenland. 

While posted to CFB Goose Bay, he met and married his wife Simonne (neé Leblanc) in 1967. Over his 35-year career he moved with his family to CFS Barrington, CFB Shearwater, CFB Uplands, CFB Cornwallis, and Air Command Headquarters in Winnipeg, with his final stop in CFB Chatham. 

For the past 14 years Boyd lived in Ottawa with his daughter Denise (Mike Colbourne) and grandchildren Ben and Matthew Goddard. It is hard to capture in words his delight in being a grandfather. He was an integral part of his grandchildren’s’ lives and loved watching them grow up to be the fine young men they are today. 

Boyd had many interests and passions including travel, gardening and bridge. He loved good food and was a talented cook, a skill he passed on to his daughter. He excelled in every sport he played from hockey to racquetball, which sadly his daughter did not inherit. Boyd taught his daughter and grandchildren to be curious about the world, appreciate good company and good food, and be kind to each other and ourselves. Most importantly he never took himself too seriously and had little time for those who did. He also never met a computer that he could figure out, and many of them met an untimely end at his hands. 

As one of his nieces noted there was never a dull moment when Boyd was around. He was well known for his sense of humour and delighted in pulling pranks that often had friends and family in stitches. 

His favourite journey was always to his hometown of Truro, Nova Scotia. He is predeceased by his parents Reginald and Pearl Gilby, brothers Ross and Lee, and sisters North and Laverne. Boyd remained close to his dear sisters Janet (Lloyd) Nelson of Bible Hill, and Joyce Spencer of Great Village. He loved talking to them, hearing all the news from back home and how his nieces and nephews were doing. His ties to Truro were never diminished by distance. A testament to this is his life long friendships with childhood neighbours Allan Smith and Ted Retson. He also loved spending time with the Leblanc clan in Moncton. 

For the past 5 years his life was impacted by the effects of pulmonary fibrosis. As the disease progressed his body could no longer keep up with his still active mind. In the last months of his life Boyd was welcomed to the wonderful community at Perley Health. His family is forever grateful to the staff and fellow residents of the Perley, in particular his second family on Rideau 2 South. Boyd cherished each and every one of you. You enriched his life immeasurably and gave him a renewed sense of purpose.

His family is especially thankful for the exceptional care provided to Boyd by the Rideau Palliative Group, in particular Dr. Zakhem. 

Boyd’s final journey will be back home to Truro where there will be a celebration of life in the summer. 

Those who wish to may make a donation to the Perley Health Foundation to honour Boyd’s life.