CALCUTTA Frank C. Lyons, Sr., 89, of Huston Road died at home at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, following a lengthy illness.
Born in Calcutta, Jan. 22, 1920, he was a son of the late Rowland and Florence Lyons.
An avid gardener, he lived most of his life in the area, returning in 1956 to Calcutta, where he enjoyed working on his farm on Huston Road. He retired from the former Crucible Steel Co. in 1981 following over 25 years of service.
A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy Air Corps, he achieved the rank of lieutenant as a pilot and was charged with flying all types of aircraft from the factory to bases throughout the continental United States and Canada.
He was baptized at Longs Run Presbyterian Church along with his brothers and sisters and became a member. He helped dig the basement of the church and served as an elder and Sunday school teacher.
A 1937 graduate of East Liverpool High School, he went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture from The Ohio State University in 1950.
He also worked as an air traffic controller in Miami, Fla., and Dayton, Ohio. Later he worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Worthington, Ohio.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death in 1947 by his wife, Cecilia Lyons, whom he married in 1943. His second wife, Elda Lyons, whom he married in 1949, died in 1991.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara A. Lyle and her husband, Dr. Donald Lyle, of Grove City, Pa.; and four sons, Dr. Frank C. Lyons, Jr., and his wife Jan Ferguson, of Manhattan, Kan.; Wayne P. Lyons of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Dr. John R. Lyons and his wife, Peg Calhoun of Manhattan, Kan.; and James R. Lyons of Calcutta.
There are 10 grandchildren, Amy Biddle, Dr. David Lyle, the Rev. Michael Lyle, Debbie Blythe, Amy Langvardt, Wayne Paul Lyons, Marcus Lyons, Katie Cole, Ross Lyons and Grant Lyons. There are 17 great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are a sister, Ila Hart and her husband, Bob, of Canal Winchester, Ohio; and two brothers, Dean Lyons of Baltimore, Md., and Dale Lyons and his wife, Sharon, of Manhattan, Kan.
Preceding him in death were two sisters, Vera Boyd of Minerva and Ruth Hass of Quitman, Ga.
The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cramer of the church is to conduct services at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at the Dawson Funeral Home.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at the funeral home.
Burial is to be in Columbiana County Memorial Park where the Tri-State Veterans Burial Group will conduct full military honors.
Memorial tributes may take the form of contributions in care of Longs Run Presbyterian Church, 15851 Longs Church Road, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920 or Dollars For Scholars, P.O. Box 458, East Liverpool, Ohio 43920.
View this obituary and send condolences online at www.dawsonfuneralhome.-com
10/28/09
