Bert Boyd, who sold and marketed grapes for Pretty Lady Vineyards, McFarland, Calif., died Feb 12. He was 67.
Although he spent most of his career in produce on the retail side, Boyd joined Sunlight International Sales Inc., later changed to Pretty Lady Vineyards, in 2007. He was on the company’s sales team for more than 11 years, providing marketing for brands including Pretty Lady table grapes and Harvest Hobgoblin grapes.
George Galloway, salesman at Pretty Lady Vineyards, met Boyd more than 40 years ago.
“When he joined our team 11 years ago, I had the privilege to work shoulder-to-shoulder with someone who had a work ethic that was second-to-none,” Galloway said in a notice from Pretty Lady Vineyards. “I am so proud to have called him my friend; he will be truly missed.”
At 16, he was a bagger for a Piggly Wiggly in his home state of Illinois. He was soon promoted to produce manager.
After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he worked for American Stores Co., which managed supermarket and drugstore chains throughout the U.S. From 1973 to 2000, he was the company’s national manager for produce and floral procurement, according to the notice.
Boyd also worked for Albertsons, Boise, Idaho, and was vice president of produce and floral operations for Topco Associates’ Midwest wholesale cooperative. He was at Topco for five years, before moving to California to join Sunlight International Sales.
“Bert Boyd was kind and gentle,” Nick Dulcich, president of Pretty Lady Vineyards, said in the notice. “He was also a brilliant, hard-working man who had a sophisticated way with people that few possess. Bert was a great man who will be missed by all.”
A celebration of Boyd’s life is at 1 p.m. Pacific March 2, at Living Word Fellowship in Dinuba, Calif. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Bert Boyd Memorial Fund, c/o 695 N. Bates Ave., Dinuba, CA, 93618.
