Merle Helen Lyle

MERLE HELEN GILBERTSON LYLE, Seneca, SC, age 98, went Home to be with the Lord on December 14, 2018. Having longed for Heaven for months, missing her late husband, along with all of her loved ones who had gone before her, her prayers were answered in the wee hours of that December morning. She could then anticipate and finally experience her first true Christmas, in Heaven, as it is meant to be…the celebration of the birthday of her Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, whom she had loved and followed from a small child and beyond. Born February 3, 1920 in Hudson, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of Emil S and Eva V Gilbertson. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family, including her 4 late siblings: George, Margaret, Marion, and Robert. Lovingly raised by her great Aunt Issie and Uncle Andrew in Hudson, she eventually became a legal secretary, moving to Chicago, Illinois. During WWII, through a mutual friend, she corresponded for 6 months with her future husband, Glen Evans Lyle, a US Naval pilot, who flew a PBY (Black Cat) amphibious bomber, search and rescue plane in the South Pacific. Traveling to meet her in Chicago in January of 1945, a 3-week courtship ensued, with a proposal followed by their marriage on February 5, 1945 in her husband's hometown of Atlanta, GA. After the war, her husband, Evans, was reemployed as an executive comptroller of Burlington Industries, where he worked until his retirement. Merle was a devoted Christian wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was a joyful homemaker and mother to her 3 children: Steve, Glenn, and Robin. She became the epitome of the Proverbs 31 woman as well as a genuine example of 1 Peter 3:4: "the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit," spreading her love, light and joy to all she met in life. Having begun family life in Greensboro, NC, Burlington transferred the family throughout the years to South Hill, VA; Signal Mountain, TN; Asheboro, NC; and finally back to Greensboro, NC. After retirement from Burlington Mills, Evans and Merle retired to Sebring, FL where they remained until Evans passed away on April 13, 2008. Widowed for the next 10 years, Merle courageously continued on with her active life of homemaking, cooking and baking (her passion), gardening, bridge playing, church, and time spent with her friends, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was known as "Tutu" as a grandmother and cherished by all. In 2013, she moved to SC to be lovingly treasured and cared for by her daughter, Robin and son-in-law, Dr. Doug Gentry. She became an active member of Christ the Redeemer Church, dubbed "Queen Tutu", because of a red velveteen chair which was provided for her comfort!

She is survived by her 2 sons: Steven Evans Lyle (Brenda) of Asheboro, NC, and Glenn Ivan Lyle (Laurie) of Gulfport, FL, and her daughter Robin Merle Lyle Gentry (Doug) of Seneca, SC. She has 10 grandchildren: Julia Lyle Herman (Keith) of High Point, NC; Evan Lyle (in Heaven), Austin Lyle (Bre) and Lindsey Lyle of Gulfport, FL.; Benjamin Gentry (Lisa) of Evans, GA, Kimberly Elizabeth Gentry (in Heaven), Timothy Peter Gentry (in Heaven), Jonathan Gentry (Cordy) of Thousand Oaks, CA, Jessica Gentry Turner (Austin) of Beverly, MA, and Abigail Gentry of Charleston, SC. She has 7 great grandchildren: Andrew, Aiden, Addison, and Anson Herman of High Point, NC; Savannah Lyle of Gulfport, FL; Anna and Kimberly Gentry of Evans, GA, with one great grandchild on the way (Jessica and Austin's) expected January 30, 2019!

Two Memorial services took place to celebrate and honor Merle's beautiful life. The first was for internment with immediate family only on December 21, 2018 in Sebring, FL, and the 2nd was on December 22, 2018 for family and friends at her church home of Christ the Redeemer, Pendleton, SC.