Richard H. "Dick" 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, NM, 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 grandchildren, 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 will be at 2:00 pm., Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Croley Funeral Home Chapel in Gilmer with Brother Wayne Norvell and Rev J. Morris officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery, in Bronte, Coke County, Texas. Arrangements are 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.