William Crews Lyles, 94, died Monday, January 2, 2012, at his home in Spartanburg, SC. Born May 1, 1917, he was a son of the late Thomas Minter and Madeline Crews Lyles. Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Mary Dodd Lyles, who died April 5, 2011, and by brothers John Lyles of Sanford, NC, and Thomas Lyles of Spartanburg, SC. Lyles graduated from Spartanburg High School in 1935 and from his father’s alma mater, The Citadel, in 1939. After College, Lyles served as a captain of the Coast Artillery Unit where he was a commander in the Pacific during World War II. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina Law School and practiced law with his father, Thomas, and brother, Frank, for some 45 years. Bill and his wife, Mary, were Charter members of Fernwood Baptist Church, where he served many terms as Chairman of the Deacons and was a longtime member of the Pioneer/Fellowship Sunday School Class. Bill was former president of the the Spartanburg Kiwanis Club and a longtime member of the Country Club of Spartanburg. He lived a long and productive life as he practiced law into his seventies, played golf into his eighties, and did yard work into his nineties. Mr. Lyles is survived by his four sons and their families, Robert Dodd and Debra Clyburn Lyles of Lexington, SC, Wayne Crews and Karen Darby Lyles of Spartanburg, SC, William Alan and Mary Beth Ballard Lyles of Spartanburg, SC, and Dale Minter and BJ Rhoads Lyles of Boiling Springs, SC. He is also survived by ten grandchildren, Darby Lyles Thomas (Brian) of Denver, CO, Dustin Lyles of Warner Robbins, GA, Elise Lyles of Spartanburg, SC, Shelley Lyles of Lexington, SC, Jenna Lyles Burcham (Brent) of Boiling Springs, SC, Chase Lyles of Boiling Springs, SC, Ethan Lyles of Spartanburg, SC, Dylan, Chyteria and Chantel Lyles of Boiling Springs, SC; a sister, Madge Jeter of Columbia, SC; a brother and sister-in-law, Frank and Flo Lyles of Spartanburg, SC; a sister-in-law Gertrude Brookshire of Taylors, SC; and a much-loved dog, Zach. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, January 4th, 2012, at Fernwood Baptist Church. A funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church, conducted by the Reverend Dr. Dean Allen, Dr. Lisa Wimberly Allen and Dr. P. Randall Wright. Burial will be in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in Spartanburg. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Fernwood Baptist Church, 200 Fernwood Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29307. The family wishes to thank Veronica Wertz for her dedication and loving care during the last year of Bill’s life. The family is at the home of Wayne and Karen Lyles, 696 Brookfield Road, Spartanburg, SC 29302. An online guestbook is available at www.floydmortuary.com. Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel. Tags: 1939
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