To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Missouri Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Missouri, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 7/6/14 • Approved: 9/7/18 • Last Updated: 11/2/18 • R752886-G752886-S3
Duke
Aug 10, 1908
Nov 10, 1978
Clara
Feb 10, 1920
Mar 4, 1999
Duke Erwin Pyle, 70, son of Chester Pyle and Estella Kisner Pyle, was bom August 10, 1908 in Brownsville, IL. and died in St. John's Hospital, Springfield, Mo. Nov. 11, 1978. His early life was spent in White County, IL. where he attended school and also attended Evansville college. He was associated with the law enforcement of White County, serving as Special Deputy. He served in World War II in the Seabeas and the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, his rank Chief Petty Officer. He had many interests in life, but was especially interested in electronics, having the natural ability to put his inventive ideas in effect. Following his time in the service, he moved to the Tyrone community remaining there until his death. He was a farmer by trade. He owned and operated one of the largest grape vineyards in the area until approximately three years ago when he retired. Survivors are his wife, Clara of the home; four sons, Duke of Lexington, Ky.; Harold Jay, of Vincennes. Ind., Robert of Clinton, Ind. and Richard of Houston; two daughters, Barbara Choate of Houston and Verma Rae Nowak of Vincennes, Ind.; one brother Chester (Bill}Pyle of Urbana. IL.; two sisters, Imogene Pierson of Homewood, IL and Maxine LeMasters of Red Bud, IL. and 13 grandchildren. Mr. Pyle was a member of the Baptist Church. Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 13 in the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bill Groff officiating. Burial was in the Tyrone Freewill Baptist Cemetery. [From the Houston Herald]
Clara V. Pyle, 79, daughter of Pablo Valgas and Maria Torre Valgas, was born Feb. 10, 1920, in Honolulu, Hawaii. She died March 4, 1999, at her home in Houston. She married Duke Edwin Pyle Oct. 31, 1945, in Honolulu. They had two children.
The Pyles moved to Missouri in 1960, residing in the Tyrone community for 38 years where they raised their family. They were well-known for their vineyard which they operated for about 20 years. They also had an apple and peach orchard. Mrs. Pyle loved the outdoors and milking cows. She had a special talent for growing flowers which she shared with friends and neighbors. She had recently moved to Houston following a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and a sister, Annie Barkley.
Surviving are one son, Richard Pyle of Houston; one daughter, Barbara Choate of Houston; four sisters, Margaret Figueroa, Elizabeth Caires, Betty Luk and Dorothy Garcia of Hawaii; one brother, Bill Valgas of North Carolina; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services were March 6 at the Evans Funeral Home in Houston with Bill Groff officiating. Burial was in the Tyrone Free Will Baptist Cemetery. [From the Houston Herald]
Contributed on 7/6/14 by mjrwag
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 752886