Roll Call Tribute
William "Bill" Lyles '56 October 31, 2014 2:44 PM
Hillier Funeral Home obituary
William "Bill" Lyles
July 7, 1934 - October 29, 2014
William Earl Lyles
July 7, 1934 – October 29, 2014
William Earl (Bill) Lyles, 80, passed away suddenly Wednesday, October 29 at his home in College Station. He was born July 7, 1934, in Denton Co., Texas to O. K. and Lila Lyles. After graduating from Ponder High School in 1952, Bill attended Texas A&M University where he received a B.S. in Agronomy, in 1956 and an M.S. in Plant Pathology, in 1958. He served 4 years as Supply Officer in the U.S. Air Force after his commission and served an additional 4 years in the reserves. After his military service, Bill and Mary moved to Seminole, Texas and farmed for 4 years.
In 1964 Bill was offered the opportunity to work for Texas A&M Extension Service helping finish the construction of an agricultural high school in Santiago, Dominican Republic. At the school, high school boys were taught and trained in basic agricultural skills. This education enabled these students to help improve the production of crops and agricultural practices in their country. Many were given scholarships to further there education at Texas A&M. After working 2 years in Santiago, Bill transferred to Santo Domingo to work as Crops Advisor for the Secretary of Agriculture on an AID program.
With the completion of this work commitment, Bill went to work with Elanco, which is a division of Eli Lilly Co. His primary duties were to do market research in primarily Latin America. He worked in this position for 3 years out of Indianapolis, Indiana and then was transferred to Mexico City serving as Director of Marketing for 3 years. In 1973 Bill bought/invested in George Warner Seed Co., in Hereford, Texas. He worked in numerous positions from sales management to President of the company until it’s sale in 2000. At this point he “officially” retired and in 2003 Bill and Mary moved to College Station to be closer to family and Aggie activities. Bill worked with Texas A&M for several years after “retirement” and due to his continued interest in the field of grain sorghum production, he started consulting with Gayland Ward Seed Co. in grain sorghum production for the last 10 years.
Bill worked and served on boards and committees in many capacities in his church, community, and work-related organizations. His hobbies included gardening (of which he attained the status of Master Gardener), woodworking, stained glass, and bridge. He never met a stranger and treasured the time he spent with family and friends. He loved to travel and over the years did extensive traveling around the world.
Bill married Mary Virginia Atkins June 25, 1954 and they were blessed with 3 children and 8 grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Lisa and Andy Bardach of Gunter, son James and Nancy Lyles of Paige, and son Keith and Ingrid Lyles of Fort Worth and grandchildren Lindsay, Rachel, Joshua, Austin, William, Braden, Emerson, and Philip. He is also survived by 3 brothers – Jerry Lyles of Justin, Tom Lyles of Ponder, and Jack Lyles of Fort Worth.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Monday, Nov. 3, at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, at 1pm. A graveside service will be held at the Aggie Field of Honor, immediately following the church service. A visitation time will be Sunday, Nov. 2 from 6-8pm at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan.
Cemetery Details
Aggie Field of Honor
College Station, TX,
Get Driving Directions
Upcoming Events
NOV1
Visitation 06:00PM - 08:00PM
Get Driving Directions
Hillier Funeral Home
2301 E. 29th St.
Bryan, TX, US, 77802
(979) 822-1571
NOV3
Service 01:00PM
Get Driving Directions
Christ United Methodist Church
4203 Hwy. 6 S.
College Station, TX, US, 77845
(979) 690-4673
William "Bill" Lyles
July 7, 1934 - October 29, 2014
William Earl Lyles
July 7, 1934 – October 29, 2014
William Earl (Bill) Lyles, 80, passed away suddenly Wednesday, October 29 at his home in College Station. He was born July 7, 1934, in Denton Co., Texas to O. K. and Lila Lyles. After graduating from Ponder High School in 1952, Bill attended Texas A&M University where he received a B.S. in Agronomy, in 1956 and an M.S. in Plant Pathology, in 1958. He served 4 years as Supply Officer in the U.S. Air Force after his commission and served an additional 4 years in the reserves. After his military service, Bill and Mary moved to Seminole, Texas and farmed for 4 years.
In 1964 Bill was offered the opportunity to work for Texas A&M Extension Service helping finish the construction of an agricultural high school in Santiago, Dominican Republic. At the school, high school boys were taught and trained in basic agricultural skills. This education enabled these students to help improve the production of crops and agricultural practices in their country. Many were given scholarships to further there education at Texas A&M. After working 2 years in Santiago, Bill transferred to Santo Domingo to work as Crops Advisor for the Secretary of Agriculture on an AID program.
With the completion of this work commitment, Bill went to work with Elanco, which is a division of Eli Lilly Co. His primary duties were to do market research in primarily Latin America. He worked in this position for 3 years out of Indianapolis, Indiana and then was transferred to Mexico City serving as Director of Marketing for 3 years. In 1973 Bill bought/invested in George Warner Seed Co., in Hereford, Texas. He worked in numerous positions from sales management to President of the company until it’s sale in 2000. At this point he “officially” retired and in 2003 Bill and Mary moved to College Station to be closer to family and Aggie activities. Bill worked with Texas A&M for several years after “retirement” and due to his continued interest in the field of grain sorghum production, he started consulting with Gayland Ward Seed Co. in grain sorghum production for the last 10 years.
Bill worked and served on boards and committees in many capacities in his church, community, and work-related organizations. His hobbies included gardening (of which he attained the status of Master Gardener), woodworking, stained glass, and bridge. He never met a stranger and treasured the time he spent with family and friends. He loved to travel and over the years did extensive traveling around the world.
Bill married Mary Virginia Atkins June 25, 1954 and they were blessed with 3 children and 8 grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Lisa and Andy Bardach of Gunter, son James and Nancy Lyles of Paige, and son Keith and Ingrid Lyles of Fort Worth and grandchildren Lindsay, Rachel, Joshua, Austin, William, Braden, Emerson, and Philip. He is also survived by 3 brothers – Jerry Lyles of Justin, Tom Lyles of Ponder, and Jack Lyles of Fort Worth.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Monday, Nov. 3, at Christ United Methodist Church in College Station, at 1pm. A graveside service will be held at the Aggie Field of Honor, immediately following the church service. A visitation time will be Sunday, Nov. 2 from 6-8pm at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan.
Cemetery Details
Aggie Field of Honor
College Station, TX,
Get Driving Directions
Upcoming Events
NOV1
Visitation 06:00PM - 08:00PM
Get Driving Directions
Hillier Funeral Home
2301 E. 29th St.
Bryan, TX, US, 77802
(979) 822-1571
NOV3
Service 01:00PM
Get Driving Directions
Christ United Methodist Church
4203 Hwy. 6 S.
College Station, TX, US, 77845
(979) 690-4673
505 George Bush Drive
College Station, TX 77840
(979) 845-7514
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