George Van Lyle, 92, a Carson City resident for the past 38 years, died July 24, 2003, at home. He was born in 1911, in Santa Clara, Calif., to George W. and Ora Violet Lyle.
Friends are invited to drop by the Reid Ross home, 4200 Emerson Drive, from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday to share memories with his family.
After graduating from high school, he ran the family ranch in Uvas, Calif.
After World War II, he began dairying and owned his own trucking company.
He married Faye Stark in 1955. She preceded him in death.
He moved to Dixie Valley in 1958 to establish a ranch. There, he helped run a one-room school and worked on the Project Shoal nuclear test. He also took up amateur radio and was licensed as K7ZAU.
In 1965, Mr. Lyle moved to Carson City, where he worked for the Carson City School District as a plant manager and truant officer. He retired in 1974, then devoted his energies to amateur radio, concentrating on public service and emergency communications. He was a familiar face and voice during the Pony Express ride re-enactments and Tour of the California Alps bicycle events.
He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Palo Alto, Calif., and was a founding member of BPOE Lodge 2239 in Fallon. He was also a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the American Radio Relay League and many other amateur radio organizations.
Among his survivors are his son, George Stuart Lyle; granddaughters Claire Elizabeth Lyle and Tempest Faye Lyle; and friend and companion Marjorie Pignolet.
Capitol City Cremation and Burial Society is in charge of arrangements.