Roger Allen Pyatt's Obituary
Roger Allen Pyatt, age 83, of Naples, FL, formerly of Pinckneyville, IL, passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 in Cumming, GA. Roger was born on October 7, 1930 and was the son of Lucian Wham Pyatt and Lillian Lorraine (Gass) Pyatt. He was married to Lucille Marie Beck on April 5, 1953 at Zion Lutheran Church in Pinckneyville, IL. They were blessed with 61 years together. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Naples, FL. Roger graduated from Roosevelt High School, St. Louis, MO in 1949. He was an active Explorer Scout at that time which fostered his love of the outdoors that was later shared with his family. He then attended Harris Teachers College and University of Missouri at Rolla, MO before enlisting in the United States Air Force where he served proudly as a 1st Lieutenant. He was a B-25 bomber navigator and instructor of navigation. While in the Air Force he attended Baylor University, Waco, TX. Following his time in the Air Force, Roger moved his family to Champaign, IL to attend the University of Illinois where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering. He was a member of the honorary fraternities, Tau Beta Phi, Eta Kappa Nu and Sigma Tau and his name appears on the 1959 Bronze Tablet for graduates in the top 3% of their class. He worked for Rockwell-Collins in Cedar Rapids, IA for 31 years, retiring as a technical director of engineering in 1992. Roger enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, canoeing and other outdoor activities that he always shared with his family. His family has fond memories of camping in the Rocky Mountains, canoeing in Canada and many other adventures. His interest in scouting continued from high school and he was a Scout Master for the Boy Scouts of America braving many frigid Iowa winter camping trips with his son Daniel and his scout troop. Following retirement, Roger and Lucille divided their time between homes in the Atlanta, GA area and Naples, FL. Roger kept busy as a golf marshal and an usher at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts. Survivors include his wife, Lucille and their two children, Laurie Anne Pyatt of Memphis, TN and Daniel Beck Pyatt of Cumming, GA. Roger is also survived by six nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Kathryn J. Pyatt and Wanda L. McKinstry. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL at 12:00 p.m. with Reverend David Kollmeyer officiating. A graveside memorial service will follow at Galum Presbyterian Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL. Interment will be in Galum Presbyterian Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.Graveside military rites will be provided by Presswood-Daffron American Legion Post #2504. Friends may call at Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL on Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Galum Cemetery Association.
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