WWII Veteran Finds Stability & Comfort Thanks to Hospice Support

James “Jim” Boydston was 17 when Pearl Harbor changed the direction of his life. As soon as he turned 18, he paused his college plans and joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was eventually stationed in Northern England as a radio operator during the final years of World War II, a time that left a lasting impression on him.

After the war, Jim returned to Oregon and used the GI Bill to continue his education. He later earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering at Harvard, graduating first in his class. During those early years, he married Sylvia Thomas, and they shared 62 years of marriage rooted in family and giving back.

His career included work with the Environmental Protection Agency and state agencies, where he received awards for improving water quality, including projects on the Willamette River. His family said he never boasted about his achievements. Instead, he focused on serving others and protecting the environment.

Finding Comfort & Care at Age 101

As he reached 101, Jim remained mentally sharp and steady in his routines. But after several falls and a hospital stay, doctors believed he was in heart failure and didn’t have long to live, so hospice was recommended.

“We thought we won the lottery when we heard a bed was open at the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House,” his son John Boydston said.

Almost immediately Jim responded well to hospice care. Thanks to a healing environment and attentive support, his condition stabilized and his family began calling it his “hospice honeymoon.”

“The team worked closely with us and adjusted his comfort plan as needed,” John said. “They made everything easier and included our observations into their decisions. We always felt he was truly cared for and he even had nurses who would bring him milkshakes.”

Honoring His Service

One of the most meaningful moments during his stay was the pinning ceremony, part of Samaritan Evergreen Hospice’s We Care for Veterans program. Staff gathered as the chaplain thanked him for his service. Though Jim rested with his eyes closed, he heard every word. At the end of the ceremony he smiled and said, “I’d do it all over again.”

After five weeks, it became clear that Jim was no longer actively declining. He had improved enough that the team discussed the possibility of him benefiting from skilled nursing care. With support from the hospice social worker, the family began exploring options and Jim was smoothly transitioned to the Oregon Veterans’ Home where he lived for another month before he passed.

For Jim’s family, his time at the hospice house was a gift – it upheld his dignity and allowed them to focus on simply being with him.

“Dad always said he was the luckiest man on the planet,” John said. “And in hospice, he was surrounded by people who cared for him the way he cared for others.”

If you or someone you love could benefit from compassionate end‑of‑life care, learn more at samhealth.org/Hospice.