Arley Wilson Byer, 92, beloved and loving husband of Margaret Evelyn Hollinger Byer; father of Andrew Guy Byer, Alan Dewey Byer, Holly Byer Renfrew, and Matthew Wilson Byer; passed away on August 1, 2011. He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years; his brother, Vernon, of Markle, Indiana; his sons and daughter; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Fern Byer; an infant son, Alexander; his sister, Eileen; his grandson, Dwight H. Renfrew III; and his brother, Edward.
Wilson, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1919. He and his siblings grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated from South Side High School. He continued his education at Indiana University, Fort Wayne and, later, at Purdue University; in 1942 Wilson graduated from Purdue with honors (Tau Beta Pi). That same year he went to work for Union Carbide Corporation in South Charleston, where he continued for his entire working life. When Wilson retired in 1984 with 42 years of service, he was Assistant Director of Engineering at the Union Carbide Technical Center in South Charleston.
After he retired, Wilson and Margaret played tennis right up until his first bout with heart disease in 2008. For many years, he maintained the clay courts of the Carbide Tennis Club. Wilson was a life-long beekeeper, and paid for much of his college education selling the honey from his hives. He continued after he retired, and still tended several hives until his death; Charleston Newspapers recognized his avocation with a long article in 2006. He was an avid photographer for much of his life, and his work appeared in Trains and Goldenseal magazines. Wilson also loved to ice-skate, and was unofficial skating instructor at the Carbide Nights held at the Charleston Civic Center skating rink. According to one former pupil, "He so kindly and gently taught so many kids, and adults, to skate. He spent more time teaching others to love skating than he did skating himself." Finally, he was a self-taught piano tuner, and worked on the instruments of friends, family, and his church free of charge. First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 for his contributions to their music ministry.
A memorial service to celebrate Wilson's life was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9th at First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston with Pastor Gary McGrew officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to The First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston and designated for the Haiti Medical Mission.
(As listed by Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV)
Wilson, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1919. He and his siblings grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated from South Side High School. He continued his education at Indiana University, Fort Wayne and, later, at Purdue University; in 1942 Wilson graduated from Purdue with honors (Tau Beta Pi). That same year he went to work for Union Carbide Corporation in South Charleston, where he continued for his entire working life. When Wilson retired in 1984 with 42 years of service, he was Assistant Director of Engineering at the Union Carbide Technical Center in South Charleston.
After he retired, Wilson and Margaret played tennis right up until his first bout with heart disease in 2008. For many years, he maintained the clay courts of the Carbide Tennis Club. Wilson was a life-long beekeeper, and paid for much of his college education selling the honey from his hives. He continued after he retired, and still tended several hives until his death; Charleston Newspapers recognized his avocation with a long article in 2006. He was an avid photographer for much of his life, and his work appeared in Trains and Goldenseal magazines. Wilson also loved to ice-skate, and was unofficial skating instructor at the Carbide Nights held at the Charleston Civic Center skating rink. According to one former pupil, "He so kindly and gently taught so many kids, and adults, to skate. He spent more time teaching others to love skating than he did skating himself." Finally, he was a self-taught piano tuner, and worked on the instruments of friends, family, and his church free of charge. First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 for his contributions to their music ministry.
A memorial service to celebrate Wilson's life was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9th at First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston with Pastor Gary McGrew officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to The First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston and designated for the Haiti Medical Mission.
(As listed by Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV)
Arley Wilson Byer, 92, beloved and loving husband of Margaret Evelyn Hollinger Byer; father of Andrew Guy Byer, Alan Dewey Byer, Holly Byer Renfrew, and Matthew Wilson Byer; passed away on August 1, 2011. He is survived by his wife of nearly 65 years; his brother, Vernon, of Markle, Indiana; his sons and daughter; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Fern Byer; an infant son, Alexander; his sister, Eileen; his grandson, Dwight H. Renfrew III; and his brother, Edward.
Wilson, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1919. He and his siblings grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated from South Side High School. He continued his education at Indiana University, Fort Wayne and, later, at Purdue University; in 1942 Wilson graduated from Purdue with honors (Tau Beta Pi). That same year he went to work for Union Carbide Corporation in South Charleston, where he continued for his entire working life. When Wilson retired in 1984 with 42 years of service, he was Assistant Director of Engineering at the Union Carbide Technical Center in South Charleston.
After he retired, Wilson and Margaret played tennis right up until his first bout with heart disease in 2008. For many years, he maintained the clay courts of the Carbide Tennis Club. Wilson was a life-long beekeeper, and paid for much of his college education selling the honey from his hives. He continued after he retired, and still tended several hives until his death; Charleston Newspapers recognized his avocation with a long article in 2006. He was an avid photographer for much of his life, and his work appeared in Trains and Goldenseal magazines. Wilson also loved to ice-skate, and was unofficial skating instructor at the Carbide Nights held at the Charleston Civic Center skating rink. According to one former pupil, "He so kindly and gently taught so many kids, and adults, to skate. He spent more time teaching others to love skating than he did skating himself." Finally, he was a self-taught piano tuner, and worked on the instruments of friends, family, and his church free of charge. First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 for his contributions to their music ministry.
A memorial service to celebrate Wilson's life was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9th at First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston with Pastor Gary McGrew officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to The First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston and designated for the Haiti Medical Mission.
(As listed by Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV)
Wilson, as he was known to friends and family, was born in Van Wert, Ohio in 1919. He and his siblings grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he graduated from South Side High School. He continued his education at Indiana University, Fort Wayne and, later, at Purdue University; in 1942 Wilson graduated from Purdue with honors (Tau Beta Pi). That same year he went to work for Union Carbide Corporation in South Charleston, where he continued for his entire working life. When Wilson retired in 1984 with 42 years of service, he was Assistant Director of Engineering at the Union Carbide Technical Center in South Charleston.
After he retired, Wilson and Margaret played tennis right up until his first bout with heart disease in 2008. For many years, he maintained the clay courts of the Carbide Tennis Club. Wilson was a life-long beekeeper, and paid for much of his college education selling the honey from his hives. He continued after he retired, and still tended several hives until his death; Charleston Newspapers recognized his avocation with a long article in 2006. He was an avid photographer for much of his life, and his work appeared in Trains and Goldenseal magazines. Wilson also loved to ice-skate, and was unofficial skating instructor at the Carbide Nights held at the Charleston Civic Center skating rink. According to one former pupil, "He so kindly and gently taught so many kids, and adults, to skate. He spent more time teaching others to love skating than he did skating himself." Finally, he was a self-taught piano tuner, and worked on the instruments of friends, family, and his church free of charge. First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation in 2010 for his contributions to their music ministry.
A memorial service to celebrate Wilson's life was held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9th at First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston with Pastor Gary McGrew officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to The First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston and designated for the Haiti Medical Mission.
(As listed by Snodgrass Funeral Home, South Charleston, WV)
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