William V. Boylan | Underwriter, veteran, 89

William V. "Bozzie" Boylan, 89, formerly of Havertown, an insurance underwriter and decorated World War II veteran, died of pneumonia Saturday at Lima Estates in Media.

Mr. Boylan graduated from West Catholic High School for Boys. During World War II he served in the Army in Europe. He landed on Omaha Beach as part of the Normandy Invasion. Four months later he earned a Bronze Star for diverting the enemy's attention away from a raiding party.

After the war, he remained in the Army Reserve until retiring in the 1970s as a lieutenant colonel. He kept in contact with his wartime comrades, his daughter Mary McCabe said.

In civilian life, Mr. Boylan was a casualty and property insurance underwriter. For more than 20 years he worked for the Insurance Company of North America, now Cigna. After retiring in the mid-1980s, he did building inspections for small insurance companies until 2005.

He loved socializing with friends, his daughter said, and cherished time with his 12 grandchildren.

Mr. Boylan is also survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary Jane Mellon Boylan; daughter Julie Brady; and a son, Vincent Jr.

A Funeral Mass will be said at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 430 Valleybrook Rd., Glen Mills. Friends may call from 9:30 a.m. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township.