Obituary: Richard Henry (Dick) Wylie, May 4, 2015

Contributed by Brenda Scott Hines
Aug 2015
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The Observer/Enterprise, Coke County, Friday, June 19, 2015

Wylie                                                                                                                           

Richard Henry (Dick) Wylie, 89, was welcomed into the restful peace of 
heaven on Monday, May 4, 2015.

Mr. Wylie was born September 20, 1925, at the Wylie Ranch, south of 
Bronte, Texas, in Coke County, to Thomas Milton Wylie and 
Geneva Gideon Wylie. He attended school in both Bronte and Robert Lee, 
attending High School in Robert Lee, Texas.

After completing his service in WWII, he married Jo Marie Boyd in 
Stephenville on July 2, 1948. They shared 61 years together before her 
passing in 2009.

Mr. Wylie served our country during WWII in the Army. He enlisted 
early and reported for duty shortly after his 18th birthday. He was 
excited about the opportunities to see the world. He served in France 
and Germany, suffered life-threatening injuries, was taken as a POW, 
but was treated kindly and released. He was picked up by the Allied 
forces and then sent to England for recovery. After his recovery and 
the end of the war, he was assigned to a detail escorting war prisoners 
from Texas to California by train and then to Greece and Italy by ship. 
He did see the world, but not quite the way he had imagined.

After completing his military service, Mr. Wylie worked for GTE in 
San Angelo, Hobbs, New Mexico, Dickinson, League City, Brownwood and 
Bryan. He retired in 1985 in Bryan after 38 years. In 2009, Dick and 
Jo moved to Gilmer to be closer to their children.

During his lifetime, Dick was active in his community with his leadership 
in the Boy Scouts, 4-H Horse Club, Lion's Club and by serving as a 
deacon for many years. Mr. Wylie was raised as a Methodist, was a 
long-time member of the Baptist Church, and was currently a member of 
the First United Methodist Church in Gilmer, Texas. He was a devoted 
husband and father, as well a supporting force
for his family and friends. He will be missed by all who knew him, 
as he made an impact on all who met him.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Milton Joe Wylie and wife, 
Mary Ann of Gilmer; daughter, Barbara Smith and husband, Gary, of Gilmer; 
four grand-children, Matthew Milton Wylie, of Toronto, Canada, 
Meredith Ann Woodchek and husband Mike, of Dallas; Shea Irwin Wylie Smith 
of Dallas and Audra Marie Smith of Frisco; great-grandchildren Atticus Wylie 
of Toronto, Canada and Jake Woodchek of Dallas; sister in-law Jean Sanders 
of Gilmer; and loving nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jo Marie Boyd Wylie; 
brother, T. M. Wylie, Jr. and sister-in-law, Mary May Wylie; and sister, 
Dorothy Ruth Brown and brother-in-law, Tom Brown.

Memorial service for Mr. Wylie was held at 2 pm., Saturday, June 13, 2015, 
at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer with Brother Wayne Norvell and Rev
J. Morris officiating. Interment followed in the Fairview Cemetery in Bronte, 
Coke County, Texas. Arrangements were under the direction of Croley Funeral 
Home in Gilmer.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorial donations may be
made to the Wesley House in Gilmer, 231 Quail Dr, Gilmer, Texas 75645, the 
American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123-1718 
or to a favorite charity in his honor.

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