Virgil Byle

Virgil D. "Bunky" Byle, 75, died December 5, 2010, at his Long Beach residence. He was born in Astoria on Sept. 28, 1935, to Theodore Byle and Elsie (Tolva) Byle-Dean. His stepfather was Harry Dean. He was raised on the Long Beach Peninsula where he attended Long Beach and Hilltop school until joining the Navy in 1953. He was on active duty status for four years. On Sept. 20, 1957, he married Ada June Kilpatrick. He enlisted in Air Force in 1957, was stationed at McChord Air Force Base until 1959 when he was transferred to Hamilton Air Force Base in California in 1959. A daughter, Sonja, was born in the fall of 1960 and a second daughter, Alberta "Birdie" was born in the fall of 1963. Virgil was stationed in Okinawa, Japan in 1962, then at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas in 1964, completed his first four-month Vietnam tour, then finished a second one-year Vietnam tour in 1966. His last assignment was at George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif., where he was until he retired in August 1973. After his retiring he and Ada made their family home on the Long Beach Peninsula. He attended Clatsop Community College where he took general studies and welding courses. After retiring from the military he worked through the Piledrivers Union from 1974-81; as a bus driver and custodian at Ocean Beach School District from 1981-2005; and as a substitute bus driver until 2008. He also volunteered with Pacific County Fire District No. 1 from 1981 to 2002 as a first responder and fire investigator. Along with volunteer work his hobbies included HAM radio, the Peninsula Rodeo and Peninsula Saddle Club, which was a shared interest with lifelong friend Roy Gray. He enjoyed fishing, gambling, traveling in his motor home, spending time with family and especially his grandchildren on the tractor in the horse pastures; and having "guy time" in his man-cave (his garage). Survivors include his wife, Ada; daughter, Sonja June (Byle) Borton; a son, Roger Earl Byle; grandchildren, Justin, Tonya and Andrew DeWitt; Danielle (Vandermeulen) Jewett and Granville "Gran" Vandermeulen; seven great-grandchildren (he was hoping to see the eighth on the way); and nine nieces and nephews. His parents; stepfather; brothers, Harry and Albert; and daughter, Alberta "Birdie" DeWitt, preceded him in death. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Grace Family Fellowship on 37th and Pacific in Seaview. His guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.