Harry Willard Pyle

Pastor Willard Pyle, 92, entered into the presence of his beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, April 24, 2022. He was born July 24, 1929, to Charles and Mary Pyle in Portsmouth, OH, and was blessed by God with a long and useful life. Many are the lives he touched. His family, friends, and all who came under the influence of his life and ministry would gladly testify that he was a man of great Christian character. Rarely did anyone visit who did not find him sitting with his Bible, pen, and notebook as he meditated and prepared for preaching. He would want all to know that any good in him came only by the grace of God.

After his conversion to Jesus Christ in 1949, Willard announced his call to the ministry in August of 1950. He attended and graduated from Lexington Baptist Bible College in Lexington, Kentucky, followed by pastoral ministry that spanned more than 65 years. His first Pastorates were in Garrison and Maysville, KY, beginning in 1955. In 1960, he was called to Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Chesapeake, OH. This was a blessed time for all the family and many fond memories and lifelong friends were made there. Willard had most recently faithfully served as Pastor of Naples Park Baptist church from October, 1978 until 2021.

As part of his pastoral heart, Willard loved spreading the gospel to children. For many years he conducted Vacation Bible Schools in several different churches in Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Willard is survived by his dear and loving wife of 72 years, Dolores Kirkendall Pyle. Their marriage was truly one made in heaven, as manifested by their constant love and devotion to one another through all the years.

He is also survived by four daughters, Karen Wilson (Joe) of Owensboro, Kentucky; Mary Parrish (Tim) of Courtland, Virginia; Carol Proctor (Andy) of Germanton, North Carolina, and Rita Ryerson (Don) of Greenville, South Carolina. Pastor Pyle was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Kenneth David.

Other survivors include 15 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren, who share fond memories concerning their “Papa”, and many of them follow in his steps in their devotion to Jesus Christ.

Services will be at 12 p.m., Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park in Fort Myers with Travis Pyle, Joe Wilson, Andy Proctor and Adam Smith presiding. Visitation will be at 11 a.m. before the funeral with burial to follow.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to your own church or to the church of which Willard was a member, Midland Missionary Baptist Church, Franklin Furnace, OH. (Address: Pastor Rex Smith, P. O. Box 213, South Shore, KY, 41175).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.leememorialparkfuneralhome.com for the Pyle family.