Lawrence Ray Pyle went to be with the Lord on August 8, 2016, surrounded by his family. He was the husband of Judith (Allen) Pyle, his loving wife of 55 years. Lawrence was born on May 26, 1935, in Bethany, W.Va. to Dorothy and Wayne Pyle. He graduated from Bethany High School in 1953 where he was a member of the basketball and baseball teams. After graduating from West Virginia University in 1960, he was employed by the Brooke County Board of Education as a teacher for 29 years beginning at Wellsburg Junior High and then transferring to Bethany High School and Middle School. He taught a wide-range of subjects including math, industrial arts, science, and was even asked to teach a class in home economics one year. After retiring in 1989, he substituted throughout the county for several more years. In 2010 he was inducted into the Brooke County Wall of Fame. In addition to teaching, Lawrence had a passion for farming and was happiest when he was on his tractor.

Lawrence was involved in 4-H, first as a member and later as a leader. He was selected to represent the State of W.Va., at the National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, Ill. in 1954 and is a 4-H All Star. He was also an avid sports enthusiast and was especially fond of the Pittsburgh teams and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Lawrence was a member, Paul Harris Fellow, and past president of the Brooke County Rotary Club and a member of the Northern Panhandle Cattleman’s Association. He was a member of Bethany Memorial Church where he served for many years as property chair and elder and deacon. His favorite job was most likely being grandfather to Nathan and Zina Bohach and Ryan and Arkady Seidewitz. When asked in first grade what he wanted to be when he grew up he replied "a grandfather."

Lawrence was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Pyle and Mother Dorothy (Ashbaugh) Pyle, a granddaughter Taylor Hope Bohach, a sister Bettie (Pyle) Pauls and a brother Gerald Pyle. He is survived by his wife Judy (Allen) Pyle, two daughters, Jennifer (Stephen) Bohach and Wendy (Paul) Seidewitz, a sister Anna Mae Norden, two brothers, Joe Pyle and Don Pyle and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will be received on Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 1:00-3:00 and 6:00-9:00 PM at Chambers Funeral Home, Wellsburg, WV (304)737-3551 and again on Friday, August 12, 2016 from 10:00 AM until time of celebration of life service at 11:00 AM at the Bethany Memorial Church, Bethany, WV with Reverend Thad Allen and Reverend Scott Thayer, officiating.

Interment will follow at Bethany Community Cemetery, Bethany, WV

In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to Brooke County Rotary, PO Box 534, Wellsburg, WV 26070.

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