Born in 1926 in South Carolina, Rachel Gwinn met the love of her life, Robert Vernon Pyle, in 1947 and they married after a whirlwind 20-day romance. The two of them had one daughter, Melody, and they moved around often, going where the Air Force sent them and living all over the United States as well as a stint in Guam.
Eventually they settled in central Texas, and for nearly 40 years they lived in their dream home in Round Rock. Rachel enjoyed making their house a home and took great pride in gardening and cultivating beautiful plants and flowers in their yard. Her other great joys were cooking for her family, hosting family holidays, and spoiling her granddaughters and great-granddaughter. She and Robert had great faith and for more than 20 years they were members of the First Baptist Church of Pflugerville.
After 70 years of marriage, Rachel was preceded in death by her husband Robert last August. Rachel was also preceded in death by her daughter Melody (Pyle) Jorden, her sisters Dorothy Brown & Mignon Laurens, their parents Lawrence Gwinn & Maude Stroud, and her nephew, Gerald “Jerry” Laurens.
Rachel is survived by her three granddaughters, Harmony Jorden & Eryn Jorden of Kirkland, WA & Lynda Pyle of Pflugerville, Texas, and by her great-granddaughter Lorelei Spengler of Pflugerville, Texas. She is also survived by many other extended family members, including nieces Joy Laurens Davis, Jane Brown Watson & Cheryl Brown Raines, nephews Kenneth Brown & Michael Brown, and their families.
The family would like to thank all who helped care for Rachel over the last few years, including the kind caretakers from Home Instead in Round Rock and the wonderful nurses and caretakers at Brookdale Parmer Lane and Brookdale Hospice.
Visitation and service will be held Thursday, March 22nd at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks funeral home. Visitation begins at 12:00 p.m., immediately followed by a service at 1:00 p.m.
