LYLE B. SCHWILLING

LYLE B. SCHWILLING

Akron, Ohio

Lyle B. Schwilling, age 80, formerly of Chase County, KS., died Friday, 31, 2008, in Akron, OH. The funeral service will be held Thursday, November 6, 2008, at 11:00 A.M., at the Brown-Bennett-Alexander Funeral Home with Pastor Lori Schwilling officiating. Graveside military honors will be conducted by a McConnell Air Force Base honor guard at Prairie Grove Cemetery in rural Cottonwood Falls, KS.

The son of Joseph and Esther Twining Schwilling, Lyle B. was born December 24, 1927, in Clements, KS. He graduated from Chase County High School in 1946. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1946 and was assigned to the Air Weather Wing stationed in Tokyo, Japan. One of his proudest accomplishments was climbing Mt. Fuji at the age of 29. He graduated from Kansas State University in 1952, with a degree in journalism. His first job was as a sports writer/announcer for the Topeka Daily Capital, followed by several years with United Press International (UP) in New Orleans. He joined PR agency Carl Byoir Associates in New York City and Hallmark in Kansas City. In 1966, he moved to Akron to accept a position in the public relations division of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Two yeas later, he was named Public Relations Manager for the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation (now Loral). He retired as Director of Public Relations.

He married Penny on Nov. 21, 2005. He always claimed he was a "Kansas farmer at heart" and purchased a small farm close to his home. One of his favorite hobbies was woodcutting and, after his retirement, he had a small enterprise supplying dozens of customers with truckloads of firewood each fall.

He is survived by Penny, his wife, of the home; three brothers: Russell Schwilling of Osage Beach, MO., Wayne Schwilling of Strong City, KS., and Harry Schwilling of Wichita, KS.; two sisters: Bernice Weamer of Ottawa, KS. and Shirley Cowdrey of Olathe, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Joseph Schwilling, Jr., Howard Schwilling , and Marvin Schwilling and three sisters: Dorothy Wagner, Janette Duke, and Mary Louise Shehan.

Condolences and messages to the family may be left at www.brown-bennett-alexander.com.

The family will meet friends and family Wednesday, from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Friends and family may call Wednesday, noon until 8:00 P.M. and Thursday, 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home.

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