Thomas Allison Lyle

Thomas Allison 'Tom'? Lyle, age 90, died peacefully at his home in Vienna, Virginia on January 27, 2010, after an extended illness. He was born in Johnson City, TN, on December 22, 1919 to Bessie Thomas and Summers Lyle, Jr. He attended Johnson City schools, and graduated from East Tennessee State University (ETSU), which recognized him as Outstanding Alumni of the Year in 1981. Tom taught industrial arts at Science Hill High School, and during World War II he taught airplane mechanics at Chanute Field in Chicago. After the war, his mechanical interests lead him to accept a position as an aircraft mechanic on the flight line at Cherry Point Marine Air Station. He received the Meritorious Civilian Service Award from the U.S. Navy in 1953 when he led a group of men to extinguish a fire that threatened gasoline stores, many aircraft and personnel. He rose to become supervisor of the repair line, and from there was recruited by the Navy Bureau of Ships in Washington, DC, which later became the Naval Air Systems Command. He was awarded the Sustained Superior Civilian Service Award in 1980. He assisted numerous young engineers in establishing their careers with the Navy, after having recruited them from college. At the time of his retirement in 1980, after 36 years of dedicated service, he was responsible for designing, fielding and maintaining all aviation ground support equipment in the U.S. Navy. Although he worked tirelessly and with great pride at his profession as a mechanical engineer, Tom was a devoted husband, father and dedicated Presbyterian. He was fortunate enough to be instrumental in establishing two new Presbyterian churches, one in Havelock, NC and one in Centreville, VA. He was an elder at Vienna Presbyterian Church and provided his time and expertise over the years in many capacities, including everything from youth advisor, volunteer facility repairman, Sunday school teacher, to member of pastoral search and building committees. He was predeceased by his wife Ivodine (Ivy) Smith and his second wife Janet Moore; also his sisters Mary Jo McNiel and Francis Williams and brothers Summers, Jr., and Marvin. He is survived by his daughters Elizabeth (Libby) Hankins of Vienna, Margaret (Peggy) Lyle of Arlington, VA; his grandchildren Louie Hankins of Arlington, VA, and Elizabeth (Liz) Wilson and her husband Danny; his stepson David Moore and his wife Kathe and children Ginger, Matt and Morgan of Tampa, FL; and his brothers Joe Lyle of Sevierville, TN, and James (Jim) Lyle of Knoxville. A funeral service is scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Rev. Louis Imsande in the Chapel at Morris '' Baker Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. A private committal service will be conducted in the Oak Hill Cemetery following the funeral. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the ETSU Foundation designated for the Lyle Family Reentry Scholarship Endowment. Online condolences are available at: www.morrisbaker.com. In charge of arrangements: Morris '' Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601 or (423) 282-1521.