Rodman A. Boston, 89, construction supervisor

Rodman A. Boston, 89, of Drexel Hill, a carpenter and construction supervisor for many years, died Friday, Oct. 31, of respiratory failure at Lankenau Hospital.

Born in West Philadelphia, Mr. Boston, known as "Roddy," was one of six children. He was taken out of West Catholic High School at age 16 to work in the family's butcher shop. Later, he received a diploma from West Catholic.

He enlisted in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge as part of Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army. He was a scout, and one of a handful from his battalion to survive the war.

He was deployed in December 1944, and told his family that at one point he and a young German scout came face to face. "They looked at each other [each young, blond, and scared], nodded, and backed away from one another, allowing life and families to follow," his daughter, Patty, said.

Mr. Boston was awarded the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon and honorably discharged with the rank of technician fifth grade in 1946.

His wartime experiences were videotaped for the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media, and also for the Library of Congress.

He had been scheduled to be honored in this year's Veterans Day Parade on Monday in Media.

A lifetime member of Carpenters Union Local 8, Mr. Boston worked for many years as construction supervisor for E.C. Durell and A. Raymond Raff, both contractors in Philadelphia.

He was very proud of the work he did on the skyboxes at Veterans Stadium. He retired in 1989 to work as an assistant at Boston Design & Construction, his son's company in Drexel Hill.

"He so enjoyed this time of his life, working with his son and daughter on a creative level, and on filling our homes with beautiful woodwork and cabinetry," his daughter said.

Mr. Boston sang in choirs at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Drexel Hill and with St. Francis de Sales Parish in Philadelphia. He was a 67-year member of Men of Malvern, a Catholic retreat.

Mr. Boston was a substitute father figure to many. "He was always willing to lend a hand with his great smile and twinkling eyes," his family said. He loved computers and had Facebook friends of all ages.

He attended daily Mass at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Drexel Hill.

Surviving, besides his daughter, are his wife of 65 years, Margaret "Peggy" Jennings Boston; another daughter, Mimi Boston Johnson; sons Rodman A. Jr. and David; 12 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother; and a sister.

Another daughter, Linda McFalls, and her infant daughter, Heather, died in 1977.

Services were Wednesday, Nov. 5. Interment was in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery.

Contributions may be made to Men of Malvern, Malvern Retreat House, 315 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, Pa. 19355.