James "Paul" Boat passeed away on November 14, 2012, with hopes of filling heaven
with joy and laughter.
Paul was born in White Plains, New York, on December 27, 1920, to Maude (Kaiser)
and John Boat.
His family moved to Kellogg, Iowa, where he attended grade school and high school.
He was president of his junior and senior class, captain of the baseball and basketball
teams, and all state in baseball.
Paul attended Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. While there, he had a tryout with the Saint Louis Browns baseball team, enlisted in the Army, and was called to active duty, so he was unable to attend spring training. The same year, he met the love of his life and favorite dance partner, Shirley Krome. They began their lives together in San Antonio, Texas, where they married on June 9, 1945. He graduated the same day from military police school as a second lieutenant. Paul served in the Army for four years. After the service, Paul owned a grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa. His fifty-year sales career included selling for H.J. Heinz, Red Ball Jets, and Dunham's and Charm Step Shoes. During his career, he was awarded the Iowa Shoe Travelers Salesman of the Year and Florsheim's Corporate Salesman of the Year.
Paul was blessed with a great sense of humor and a positive attitude toward life. He was always eager to make new friends and had a good word to say about everyone. Paul was a caring and compassionate man. He loved dancing, playing bridge and playing and watching sports. Paul was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan. He and Shirley enjoyed traveling in Europe and the United States. They were blessed with many lasting friendships as they moved from coast to coast.
Most of all, Paul enjoyed being with his family. He always loved seeing and being with "his girls" and their families. Survivors include three daughters; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; niece, Kim; and nephew, Kevin. His loving wife, Shirley; brother, Gene; sister, Marjorie, and grandson, Chance preceded him in death.
Source Toledo Blade, Nov. 18, 2012
Shirley J. (Krome) Boat, devoted wife, beloved mother, loyal friend, and compassionate
animal lover, passed away on October 2, 2007, at St. Luke's Hospital.
She was born on April 15, 1922, in St. Louis, Missouri to Alfred C. and Olive Catherine
(Joffrey) Krome.
She graduated from Maplewood High School and attended Washington University in St.
Louis.
She then transferred to Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa where she met the love of
her life and favorite dance partner, James "Paul" Boat.
They began their life together in San Antonio, Texas where they married on June 9, 1945, at Fort Sam Houston. Their lives and travels took them from coast to coast. Shirley was blessed with a great sense of humor, the ability to make everyone feel welcome, and the gift of teaching her children and grandchildren the joy of cooking, playing bridge and cribbage, and cherishing family and friends.
Survivors include her husband; three daughters; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and Cole the cat. Shirley was preceded in death by her grandson, Chance Bernard.
Source Toledo Blade, Oct. 4, 2007
He formerly resided in the Hartford area and has lived in Bristol for the past 25 years. He was a veteran of World War II serving as a medic in the United States Army, and was employed at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft before retiring in 1987.
Mr. Boat is survived by a son, Kevin D. Boat of Vergennes, VT; a daughter, J. Kimberly Patoni of Plano, TX; his companion, Ann Cercone of Bristol; a brother, James P. Boat of Ohio; a sister, Marjorie Hill of Florida; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 9, 10 a.m., at Funk Funeral Home, 35 Bellevue Ave., Bristol. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill.