Edgar Wayne Pyle
(STEILACOOM, Wash.) Edgar Wayne Pyle, 80, of Steilacoom, Wash., died Monday, Aug. 4, 2014, after a long bout with Alzheimer’s.
A celebration of Ed’s life was held in Valdez, Alaska, on Aug. 10. The family spread his ashes on Prince William Sound, where Ed had spent many summers running a fishing charter business with his sons.
Ed was born in Birmingham on Jan. 8, 1934. While still in his youth, the Pyles bought a dairy farm in Wedowee, where Ed learned the value of hard work and family business alongside his parents and siblings. While there, he was a star football player, met his cheerleader sweetheart and married her in their senior year. Both are 1952 Wedowee High graduates. Ed and Dee celebrated 63 years of marriage. After finishing college, Ed enjoyed a 35-year career as a division chief accountant with the U.S. Army, relocating the family to Hawaii, Thailand, Indianapolis, Panama and Korea. Along with this job, he served in the Army Reserves, retiring as a major and was a Navy veteran of the Korean War. Ed and Dee retired to their current home in Steilacoom, Wash. Ed and Dee instilled in their children a love of life that included lots of family playtime. Ed was an avid fisherman, bowler, golfer, family game nighter, sports enthusiast, dog lover and sarcastic jokester, loving to get the fun and laughter going. The Pyle offspring began settling in Valdez in the 1970’s and thus began Ed and Dee’s love for the town where they spent most of their summers. Ed’s love of family and business led them to establish Harbor Landing General Store and Northern Comfort Charters (now Lady Luck Charters) with their children and spouses, both businesses still going after more than 30 years.
Ed is survived by Deloras and their children, Debbie McCann, Donna Walker (husband, Bill) and Randy Pyle (wife Mary); daughter-in-law, Tamara Byrnes; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; in-laws, nieces, nephews and very close family and friends. Pre-deceasing Ed were his son, Steve Pyle; parents, Louis Pyle and Willie Mae Jordan; sister, Naomi Pyle; and brothers, Louis, Bill and James.
