Barbara (Barb) Ann Engel Pyle

When Barbara Ann Pyle walked into the room, those in her company felt energy, an enthusiastic spontaneity. This was just one example of who Barb was and how she impacted those around her. Barb was a clever and gregarious person who always sought out the finest attributes in other people. It was as if Barb wanted to share all of their experiences, revel in their lives and celebrate their discoveries. Barb was tireless and had boundless enthusiasm that would serve her well throughout her life.

Barb was born on November 1, 1933, at Geneva General Hospital in Geneva, New York. She was the daughter of John and Josephine Engel. Barb was raised in Willard and Ovid, New York. She was an only child, loved dearly by her parents, family friends and relatives. Always at the ready with a good joke, she grew up to be quite a humorous person. While some who knew Barb might describe her as an idealist, her friends and family understood well that Barb was always in pursuit of life’s endless possibilities and opportunities available to her.

As a young girl, Barb was able to empathize and identify with a vast array of people and personality types. This quality drew her into a diverse group of friends and acquaintances. Barb was intelligent and had little trouble getting along with her peers. She was almost always the first to jump in when it came to playing games or participating in other childhood activities. She was active in her church and enjoyed being active in girl scouts with her girlfriends. In her spare time, she liked to read, draw, paint, hang with her friends, ice skate, swim, and boat at her parents' lake house. Barb had the ability to find amusement with almost any activity she and the many childhood friends she shared might discover.

During her high school years, Barb responded enthusiastically to any new project and was regularly in search of one adventure after another. She graduated from Ovid Central School in June 1951. Barb was a very good student, and generally did well in her courses. Barb absorbed as much as she could from all her teachers and was consistently able to tackle conceptual and abstract problems, using her imagination to master her assignments. Classmates considered Barb a good listener, knowing that, when necessary, they could go to her to discuss just about anything. Her favorite class in high school was Home Economics, Art, and English. She received several letters of recognition from her teachers at school for her team spirit and leadership.

Barb did well in college, as a result of her comfort level with tackling new theories and her love of learning. She earned her AAS (Associate of Applied Science) degree at New York State University Cobleskill, BA (Bachelor of Arts) degree in Elementary Education, New York State University of Oswego, and a Special Education Certification at New York University of Buffalo. Her favorite courses included early education, elementary education, special education, and art. In addition to her normal course studies and being a new bride, Barb was recognized as an outstanding student. Her extra-curricular activities included reporter for the school newspaper, junior class secretary, Beta Sigma Chi Vice President, Art editor, member of Women's Student Government Association, and member of Orange Key Society. She volunteered in the pre-school education program too. Barb was very adaptable, a quality that helped her make the transition from high school to college with little difficulty. As a result, Barb's problem-solving skills and thirst for new knowledge almost guaranteed that she enjoyed virtually every class she took. Barb was always in quest of new things to learn and experience.

With a talent for making acquaintances easily which in turn brought her an endless stream of friends, Barb was very sociable and could blend without effort into any social group. Assertive and outgoing, Barb was easy to know and demonstrated a deep concern for others. She always seemed aware of what was going on with people around her and throughout her life she made many, many friends. While growing up she was close with her cousins and her friends at school. Later in life, she became friends with anyone who she met. She was eager to embrace friendships and became long-lasting friends to many.

On September 1, 1951, Barb married George Robert (Bob) Pyle at Holy Cross Catholic Church of Ovid, New York. Barb and Bob married young; she was only 17. She was very much in love with her US NAVY sailor husband. They started their married life by attending New York State University at Cobleskill earning degrees. They set a pathway for their young professional lives. In 2001, they celebrated 50 years of marriage with their children in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was sensitive towards family needs, balancing career, continuing her education, and starting a family. Barb was tenderhearted and sensitive, qualities that served her well in helping to nurture her family.

Barb was a natural and creative parent who was willing to provide her family with all sorts of new and interesting experiences. For Barb, parenting was a particularly enjoyable and pleasurable part of her life. Every activity, from chores to bedtime routines, became a game in the Pyle home. Barb's skill at understanding her children's feelings, her sensitivity to their needs, and her gift for gentle persuasion enabled her to find novel solutions to any problem or situation that might crop up. Barb was blessed with five children: two daughters, Linda, and Sharon and three sons, Douglas, David, and Jeff. She was also blessed with 5 grandchildren, Matthew, Lucas, Garrett, Zachary, and Jamie.

Barb was uplifted by new ideas and was excited by life’s possibilities, traits that made her an exceptional worker. Her primary occupation was executive leadership. She was employed for 17 years as Executive Director with Wayne County ARC, New York and 30 years as Program Director/Social Services Brevard County ARC, Florida. Barb was enterprising, inventive, and working against deadlines seemed to energize her. Barb had the uncanny ability to identify a win/win solution to just about any problem, possibly because of her gift for insight. Barb's fellow workers saw her as a supporter and a mentor.

Because Barb loved to have a broad variety of activities in her life, she took advantage of the opportunity to pursue numerous hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were dancing, reading, painting, travel, boating, collecting antiques, and volunteering for everything. She even became a certified diver. Barb loved movies and the theater and frequented both. Barb had a knack for being able to multi-task in order to create time for all her favorite pastimes. However, Barb's ever-present concern for others always took precedent.

Although not a huge fan of sports, Barb derived satisfaction from watching sports and learning what she could to converse with her family and friends. She followed Florida team sports and was quick with names of players and their last notable actions. She loved the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown having parties to honor the races.

Throughout her life, Barb was actively involved in professional and community organizations. She was compassionate, accommodating, and quick to move into action. Always able to build a consensus, Barb seemed to be the person smack dab in the middle of things, working to get things done. Those who had the opportunity to work with Barb usually agreed that when you were involved in an organization with her, it was as entertaining as anything you could imagine. Early on she was active in Twigs, volunteered at the hospital, chaperoned parties and school dances, active in 4-H, and a leader in Boys/Girl Scouts. She made sure her children were enrolled in activities enriching their lives. She juggled transporting her family to various sports to include soccer, cheerleading, track, basketball, baseball, skating, dance, and skiing. She loved making award-winning costumes for her kids to wear to parties and community parades. Throughout her later years, Barbara was an active member of several community groups, serving on committees for the local hospital, homeless groups, senior respite care, Moose Club, Kiwanis Club, and Aktion Club.

Because Barb was constantly in the center of things and where the action was, she always seemed willing to join in and help, regularly getting involved in community activities. Barb's gift of planning and improvisation, along with a talent for rallying support, made her a great asset. Barb found new ways of getting things done in order to help make just about every activity more efficient and enjoyable.

Barb was a woman who was dedicated and devoted to her faith. She was a member of Holy Cross Church, Ovid, NY, Church of Epiphany, Sodus, NY, and Divine Mercy Catholic Church Merritt Island, Florida. She was in the Newman Club, a spiritual group in college, she was committed to her faith and often volunteered at church for dinners and fund-raising events. She was sympathetic and able to empathize with others and she used these qualities to the fullest while working tirelessly for her beliefs.

Though she never did anything solely for individual recognition, Barb's ingenuity, resourcefulness, and selflessness, earned her accolades for her many lifelong efforts. Some of her most prestigious awards included Citizen of the Year by Kiwanis Club, Outstanding Service Awards, ARC-Brevard, Leadership Award, Aktion Club, Distinguished Service Award, Stand Down Brevard recognition and RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) for outstanding volunteer services awards.

Barb's love of improvising in her daily life was a perfect fit for her enjoyment of traveling. Her favorite vacations were ones that were not planned. Traveling in a casual manor fit her personality well. Excited about seeing changing scenery and constantly looking for the enjoyment life could offer, Barb took her vacations seriously, well, as seriously as she possibly could. Favorite vacations included cruising in Alaska, venturing through the Florida Keys on a cabin cruiser with her family, cruising on a pontoon boat with her friends, traveling throughout the states, and Canada, fishing with the family, bus trips with her friends, Guatemala with friends, and casino trips.

Barb was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. Holly, her beautiful cat, was a best friend for 6 years. Her family was rounded out by love for her dogs, Heidi, King, Blanco, Missy, and cats, Shadow and Muffy.

When Barb's retirement finally came in 2013 at 80 years young, Barb handled it the way she usually did. First order of business was to celebrate her retirement. She was joined at Rusty's Seafood and Oyster Bar with all her agency co-workers, family and friends, which there were many. Lots of wonderful memories. Then on to her 80th birthday. She threw a 'Roaring 20's' costume party at the Planetarium. There was a band, photographer, all the food and drink one could consume. It was such an awesome party. It really highlighted the kind of person she was and her 80 years of living life to the fullest.

Because she was such a flexible person and able to adjust to any situation, retirement was just another enjoyable change of pace for Barb to master. Retired in Merritt Island, Florida; being able to do what she wanted when she wanted. She stayed active in her church and Moose Club. She continued to volunteer with several groups. She would dedicate time to some of her previous clients who did not have local family by taking them to the movies, dinner, or shopping. Even in retirement, Barb continued to stay in touch with her old friends and like always, made plenty of new ones.

Barb Pyle passed away on March 20, 2022, at Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cape Canaveral, Florida. She is survived by her children, Linda, (Paul), Douglas, (Paula), Sharon, (Jamie), David (Lisa) and Jeffrey (Catalina) along with several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her beloved cat, Holly. Services were held at Life Event Center, Rockledge, Florida. Barb was laid to rest in Florida Memorial Gardens, Rockledge, Florida.

There was always a certain style and inventiveness to Barb. She was a dynamic, self-expressive person who was forever looking to celebrate the endless possibilities life had to offer. She had a knack for being clever, creative, and witty, and for others, was a joy to be around. While she was often fiercely independent, it seemed as if many others looked to Barb Pyle for inspiration, leadership, wisdom and even courage. Barb was always more than willing to share life’s experiences with her loved ones.

Tributes/Memories

A Mother’s Love (Poem Written for Mom)

When I was a little girl, I reached for your hand,

I could barely walk, and it allowed me to stand.

You are honored for your love to all,

A person who I would always call.

I am the luckiest person that I know

To have you as a mother, willing to tell and show.

You took motherhood to a new level,

With children that were full of the devil.

Constant challenges with no relief,

With your share of joy and grief.

Multi-tasking is your way of life,

You juggled career, mothering, and longtime wife.

There are very few ways to thank you for being there,

Always supportive and truly sincere.

There is no better way to celebrate you,

Then to demonstrate how I grew.

From the day I reached for your hand,

And you showed me how to stand.

Happy Mother's Day (Tribute Written for Mom - May 9, 2021)

I must be the luckiest person alive. I have enjoyed 66 years of Mother’s Days with you. I think I was there for most of the special days and if not, I am sorry I was not. I do not know how to capture the moments of our lives together. You are some kind of special woman. As I was going through some of your papers, even in school you were getting all kinds of awards and recognitions. Your commitment to the underserved, the aged, the handicapped, children, friends and family speaks volumes of your character. I cannot think of anyone else who can stand taller and prouder in their accomplishments. You deserve so much credit for what you have achieved, most of us, including me, can only wish we had a little of your creativity and talent. Everything you touch turns to gold!

You were married young, continued your education, raising five children, began your teaching career in childhood education and became the first female county executive director for the Association for Retarded Children in NY state soon after. How amazing is that!! You continued your education, made sure your children had everything they needed, dance lessons, band, camping, scouts, 4-H, soccer, skiing, fashion shows, costumes for parades, parental supervision for overnight parties, you never ever missed a beat. In addition, you were up early to fix breakfast, drive us to school, pick us up after school, while maintaining a full-time executive position that was very demanding. Boy did you grow in that job. From a few children in a church basement to schools, group homes, work programs, adult care, and multiple services for the disabled. Your legacy will live on. Additionally, you volunteered with Twigs and the hospital to name a few.

You continued with an amazing life in Florida. You were determined to move to sunny Florida once Jeff left the nest. You never looked back! You moved here, found a position, and excelled up the career ladder. While working full time, you volunteered in all sorts of community events, organizations, and fund raisers. Two of your favorites were the Kiwanis Club and Moose Lodge. At the Kiwanis, you started Brevard County’s first Aktion Club for individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, you were active in Chapter 1544 Moose Lodge for years earning the highest-ranking female position of Sr. Regent of the lodge. You were a continuous scribe for Kiwanis and Moose magazines along with volunteering endless hours in both organizations. Florida Today captured multiple contributions you made, and you were recognized frequently for your volunteerism. Again, you have and continue to give of yourself.

As we all grew up, you never judged any of us as I can remember, although I gave you plenty of reason to. You watched me live my life to its fullest. I am sure you probably were not that pleased with some of my decisions, but for some reason you were never the mother that harped or nagged; you let us learn through our own life’s experiences. You were so levelheaded and even keeled. I do not remember you ever being angry, although I am certain there was a time or two. I think you excelled in motherhood like everything else you have done throughout your life…. even though it must have been tough to watch at times.

As we aged, we continued to stay in touch, traveled together, have long conversations and shared times only mothers and daughters long for. I am so fortunate and thankful to have a foundation built on memories, laughs, hard times and good, knowing there was unconditional love, and you were always there for me. There is not enough space to tell you what an amazing woman and mother you are. Thanks for being you and letting me into your life. I am so blessed to call you, my mom. I love you so much.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

Much love, hugs, and kisses!

A Mother’s Love (Song by Jim Brickman)

Thank you for watching over me

All of the sleepless nights you lay awake

Thank you for knowing when to hold me close

When to let me go

Thank you for every steppingstone

And for the path that always leads me home

I thank you for the time you took

To see the heart inside of me

You gave me the roots to start this life

And then you gave me wings to fly

And I learned to dream

Because you believed in me

There's no power like it on this earth

No treasure equal to its worth

The gift of a mother's love

Thank you for every sunlit day

That filled the corners of my memory

Thank you for every selfless unsung deed

I know you did for me

Thank you for giving me the choice

To search my soul till I could find my voice

And I thank you for teaching me

To be strong enough to bend

You gave me the roots to start this life

And then you gave me wings to fly

And I learned to dream

Because you believed in me

There's no power like it on this earth

No treasure equal to its worth

The gift of a mother's love

I thank God for a mother's love

* * * * * * * * * *

Barbara Engel Pyle, age 88, of Merritt Island, Florida passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2022. Barbara was born November 1, 1933.

Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, George Robert Pyle, grandson Lucas Pyle and friend Robert Becker.

She is survived by her children, Linda Pyle (Paul (Jimmy) Lingle), Douglas Pyle (Paula), Sharon Cottrell (Jamie), David Pyle (Lisa), Jeffrey Pyle (Catalina) along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to raising her children, Barbara started her career earning degrees from both Cobleskill College, NY and SUNY Oswego, NY. She taught early education and special education until 1967 when she was hired as the first woman in New York State to start an agency solely devoted to the care and education of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She started teaching in the basement of a church in Wayne County, NY with a few children and as the agency grew, she was promoted to the position of Executive Director. After 17 years, the agency had grown to include children and adults, with on-the job training, work programs, group homes, schools, adult care, and job placement.

In 1984, she relocated to Merritt Island, Florida, where she started a 30-year career at Bridges BTC, an organization serving intellectually, physically and developmentally challenged adults. The goal was to see that every individual was able to reach their full potential. Barbara was instrumental in case management, center activities, job placement and social services. She was also active in community events and fund raising. When she retired at the young age of 80, she was the Director of Social Services and Transportation.

Barbara loved her work and was a strong advocate for anyone in need of assistance. She made sure that her clients would always come first. She considered anyone who entered her path as family; she was active with the Kiwanis Club and started the first Aktion Club for Brevard County. In 2001 she was awarded Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year, a truly earned award for all the energy and effort she devoted to those who needed help. During her storied career, she was recognized several times by media for her volunteerism and giving heart. She received many awards for the dedication, devotion and compassion she showed to her clients, both in New York and in Florida. She was active in the Moose Lodge, earning Senior Regent for the Merritt Island Chapter.

When Barbara wasn't working or volunteering, she had a flare for entertaining and cooking. She loved themed parties and would host and/or organize many. She loved any excuse to be creative or to dress in costume. She enjoyed cruises, antiques and lighthouses. She was an avid book reader and belonged to a book club. She lived on the water and would enjoy watching the space launches go off or the dolphins swimming by. She was full of life and was always willing to try new adventures, such as Scuba diving; her passion was being surrounded by family and friends. Holidays and family gatherings were always special to her. Her friends and “family” at the agency were always her number one concern and she would dedicate hours to their needs. She was one that would always help the ones that could not help themselves.

Barbara had a zest for life and in her last few years developed wonderful relationships and looked forward to playing Rummikub and Bingo as much as she could with her friends. She will be truly missed; she enriched the lives of everyone that knew her and was deeply loved by all.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Barbara E. Pyle to:

Brevard Humane Society Merritt Island Adoption Center, 155 Pioneer Road, Merritt Island, Florida 32953; BrevardHumaneSociety.org

Bridges Adult Day Training Program (ADT), 1694 Cedar Street, Rockledge, Florida 32955; mybridges.org

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