Elva Lowry Boyd Wilson, 97

May 05, 2016

Elva Lowry Boyd Wilson, a working-class girl who went on to found Boyd/Wilson Property Management Company as part of a successful real-estate career, passed away surrounded by loved ones in the early hours of May 5, 2016. Her remarkable 97 years of life began in 1919 with her birth to George Lowry, a worker in an iron mill in Columbia, and Edna May Barnes, an at home umbrella tipper for a Lancaster based umbrella factory. Coming of age during the Great Depression, she graduated from Columbia High School in 1936 and, with no idea of what to do, set off to make a life for herself as a waitress in Atlantic City.

Two years later, at the age of 19, she met and married 27 year old Norris Boyd. Following time in Puerto Rico – a trip entailing the fearless Elva travelling separately from Norris by steamer with a new baby in tow – Norris went into shipbuilding in Port Deposit, Maryland. While in Maryland, the couple fell in love with Hances Point on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and decided to call this home together with their three children, Lawrence, Laralee and Norris.

In 1959, her husband died suddenly. Pooling her resources, Elva then sold the home in Hances Point and moved to Lancaster, working two days a week for a bank to supplement her social security income. Realizing she needed additional income, Elva decided to acquire a tract of land in Neffsville with the intent of constructing a duplex – she would live in one half and rent the other. When she applied for the permit, she learned she could construct 12-units on the property. Having seen townhomes on a trip to Ohio, she decided to move ahead with all twelve. This was the beginning of what was to be an immensely successful career as a property developer and manager. Not long after her first development, she formed Clabel Company with Abe and Clyde Horst, a partnership which went on to develop close to 3,000 apartments in Central Pennsylvania. In 1968, Elva married Sandy Wilson and a decade later formed Boyd/Wilson Property Management with her children.

In addition to her decades of successful real estate development, Elva was an immense pillar of the community and was heavily involved in the United Way, becoming one of Lancaster County’s first members of the Tocqueville Society and creating an million dollar endowment to help women and girls and joining the Women’s Council as an inaugural member.
Elva was also an avid needle worker, winning awards for her tapestry and passing on her love to many family members. She also enjoyed golf and travelling.

Elva is survived by her daughter, Laralee Bash, and grandchildren Michael Glass, Brian Glass and Peter Glass; her son Norris Boyd, and grandchildren, Heather Durkin and Erin Boyd; her son Benjamin Wilson and grandson Adam Wilson; her brother Charles Lowry. She was pre-deceased by her son Lawrence Boyd, and is survived by his daughters Lori Van Gordon and Vicki Boyd.

A Viewing will be held from 2-4PM on Sunday, May 8, 2016 at the Charles F. Snyder, Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory, 3110 Lititz Pike, Lititz, PA 17543. Interment will be private. Memorial Services will continue at 4PM on Monday, May 9, 2016 at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 538 W. Chestnut St, Lancaster, PA. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Elva’s memory may be made to Hospice & Community Care, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125 or the Elva Boyd Wilson Fund with the United Way of Lancaster County.