Leona H. (Toni) Boynton Rouch
Leona H. (Toni) Boynton Rouch was born Sept. 5, 1925 in North Bend, Ore., to Lillian and James Boynton. She passed away Jan. 10, 2018 at her residence in Porterville with her family by her side.
She was raised in North Bend and that is where she met her future husband, Edwin Rouch. He was attending a movie theater where she worked. They were married March 12, 1944. They welcomed their first child Mar. 8, 1945.
In the fall of 1945, the family moved to the Rouch Sawmill in Springville. They lived there until the family sold the mill in 1951. After a short stay in Fresno, they moved to Reno where they owned and operated a motel. In 1953, they returned to Porterville where they raised their three children.
Toni served as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts and a leader and camp director for Camp Fire Girls. She was always very involved in her children's lives. In the summer of 1954, she drove her children, and others, to Exeter for swim team practice. The next summer, she and Myron Wilcox started Porterville Neptunites. For years, you could find her serving as a timer at area swim meets.
All of the children played musical instruments and were members of the Bartlett and Porterville Panther Bands. Toni and Ed began chaperoning the band in 1960, and took their last trip with the Panther Band in 1976. They also provided scholarships for students to summer band camp.
In June of 1958, Toni joined Palm Leaf Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. She held several different offices before she and Ed became Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron in 1969. She served as Worthy Matron again in 1987. Toni served Grand Chapter as a Deputy Grand Matron in 1977.
Her fraternal activities also included being on the Bethel Guardian Council for Porterville Job's Daughters. She was a member of Sharon Temple No. 92, Daughters of the Nile, and was elected Queen in 1991. Toni was a long time member of Tulare/ Kings Co. Nile Club.
Toni volunteered as a Pink Lady at Kaweah Delta Hospital and at Sierra View Hospital for many years.
Toni and Ed loved spending time at their cabin in the mountains on the family property, Sequoia Crest. Another joy was to join several of their friends, on their boats, traveling the west coast.
Her children's friends were always welcome at the Rouch house. Toni definitely maintained an "Open Door" policy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lillian and James: husband, Edwin; and granddaughter, Jennifer.
Survivors include daughter, Jeri; sons, James and Thomas (Stana); grandchildren, Linda Baker(dennis), Robin Lewis(don), Bobby Buckmaster, and Kimberly Baddy(steve). Great-grandchildren, Catherine,victoria, Elijah, Brooke and Royce. Great-great grandchild, Zoe, and sister, Wanda Graham(tom), and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018 at Myers Funeral Chapel in Porterville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to: Daughters of the Nile Foundation, Sharon Temple No. 92, P.O. Box 87, Mount Hermon, Ca., 95041-0087. All donations benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children.