Thomas M. Boylston, 67, of Franklin, NC and Boca Raton, FL, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2009.

Born in NY, NY, he was the son of the late Thomas M. and Dorothy Siebel Boylston. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three children, Rudy Boylston, Richard Platt and Kathy Boylston. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and was a retired fire chief from the Deerfield Beach Fire Department where he worked for 34 years. Thomas was a member of Victory Baptist Church; he was an avid golfer and loved to read. The most important thing in his life was his family.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara Shapiro Boylston; five children, Linda Bookstein and her companion, Roy Ferlisi of Boston, Mass., Lori North and husband Dale of Port Charlotte, FL, Jill Denbow and husband Rich of Carey, NC, David Parsont and wife Rosa of Royal Palm Beach, FL and Tommy Boylston of Pompano Beach, FL; one brother, John Boylston of Palm Bay, FL; mother-in-law, Miriam Shapiro of Delray Beach, FL; nine grandchildren, Brian West, Alex Bookstein, Christian Vega, Ashlyn Boylston, Shannon Stone, Valerie Vega, Casey Denbow, Chloe Denbow and Daniel Parsont and a number of nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, December 23, at Victory Baptist Church. Rev. Benny Bagwell, Rev. Buddy Driggers, Rev. Steve Townsend and Rev. Steve Smith will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Savannah Fire Department Honor Guard will conduct graveside rites.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.

Pallbearers will be James Bates, Ron Chambers, Bob Morgan, Bruce White, Dave Kelly, Ray Latini and Carver Wilson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Victory Baptist Church Building Fund, 278 Victory Church Road, Sylva, NC 28779.

Macon Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Online condolences can be made at maconfuneralhome.com

There are no affiliations for Thomas Boylston