Pyles, Howard Sam

Howard Sam Pyles, 88, of Pearisburg, Va., passed from his earthly home to his heavenly home on Monday, October 15, 2007 at the home of his beloved niece, Faye, and Ray Strickland at Mt. Airy, N.C. after a long illness with cancer.

Sam was born on December 10, 1918 in Giles County, Va., and was a son of the late Julious and Etta Higgs Pyles. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife and mother of his children, Marjorie Lafon Pyles; his stepson, Bobby Croy; his second wife, Evelyn B. Pyles; and several brothers and sisters. Sam was an Army veteran of World War II and had retired from the Birchlawn Burial Park.

He is survived by two sons and a daughter-inlaw, Howard and Nancy Pyles, Jr. and Danny Pyles, all of Pearisburg; one daughter, Phyllis Jennings of Pulaski, Va.; one stepson, Carrol Croy of Pembroke, Va.; six stepdaughters, Lulu Mae and Dr. Tom Long of Man, W.Va., Beulah Chang of Maryland, Betty and Don Thomas of Pembroke, JoAnn Lindsey of Dublin, Va., Catherine Croy, Mary Jane and Don Guynn of Narrows, Va.; daughter-in-law, Geraldine Croy of Dublin; two grandsons, Danny Pyles, Jr. and Dennis Pyles of Pearisburg; several stepgrandchildren; a special niece and caregiver, Fay and Ray Strickland of Mt. Airy; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, October 17, 2007 at 2 p.m. at the Christ Fellowship Church in Pearisburg with the Rev. Greg Cox officiating with burial following in the Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. The family will receive friends at the Givens Funeral Home Tuesday evening, October 16, 2007 from 6 until 8 p.m. The VFW and American Legion will present the flag at the gravesite. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.givensfuneralhome.com.