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CHARLIE PYLES
Marion Charles “Gomer” Pyles, beloved husband of Elizabeth (Betty) (nee Fogle), passed away on April 25, 2024 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Edgewood, KY, surrounded by his closest family after a long battle with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
Charles was born April 27, 1944, in Elkins, WV, the son of the late Charles Howard Pyles and Mary Elizabeth Stalnaker Pyles. In addition to his parents, Charlie is preceded in death by his brother, Richard Pyles and sister, Geneva Walters who recently passed away on April 5, 2024.
Charlie is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth (Betty) (nee Fogle); and his three daughters, Shawnna (Pat) Morgan of Erlanger, KY, Amanda (Michael) Bullock of Milford, OH, and Lisa Pyles, of Glendale, AZ. He was an adoring grandfather of Ruby and Blake Morgan of Erlanger, KY, and Lilly and Zach Bullock of Milford, OH; and the great-grandfather of Major Miles of Erlanger, KY. Charlie is also survived by his sister, Luwana (Jim) Smith of Elkins, WV; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Jenny and Chuck Beetz, and Bobby Fogle and Cindy Brown of Pendleton County, KY; his Aunt Helen Stalnaker of Elkins, WV and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his thousands of good friends and former co-workers.
Flying was Charlie’s passion. He followed his lifelong interest in aviation by going to Airline School after graduating High School in Elkins High Class of 1962. He was hired by Lake Central Airlines on September 10, 1963, and retired from USAIRWAYS in May 1999. Just previous to his retirement he got involved with the Cincinnati Lunken Air Show in 1997, first as treasurer and finally as Chairman until 2004 when the show was taken over by a different group. He was awarded an honorary membership of the US Airways Soaring Eagles, and he served on the Gene Snyder Airport Board. Charlie and three other special friends were instrumental in rebuilding the Bethel Church building in Butler, KY. While this building was later destroyed by a tornado, he stayed very active with this organization to preserve it for the families.
We all know Charlie and his fierce love of aviation, next time you see an airplane flying high, think of Charlie, He will love it!
A Celebration of Life, honoring and memorializing Charlie, will be held 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Peoples Funeral Home in Butler, KY.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Lymphoma Society, https://givenow.lls.org, or the Bethel Cemetery Company, c/o Treasurer, 235 Highway 17 North, Butler, KY 41006.