Obituary: Lyle Staley Willoughby

Lyle Staley Willoughby 1919 ~ 2005 Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Lyle Staley Willoughby, 86, passed away from complications due to a long illness on October 22, 2005, at the V.A. Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Lyle was born on March 19, 1919 in Coalville, Utah to John William and Myrtle Leone (Staley) Willoughby. He married Gertrude Sophia Cost May 18, 1946 in Salt Lake City. He was a veteran of World War II. Lyle was a Tank Commander in the 11th Armored Division of the United States Army. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and his tank was the second to enter the Mauthausen Concentration Camp which was liberated on May 5, 1945. Lyle received three battle Stars and was awarded the Bronze Star for "heroic conduct in connection with military operations against an armed enemy." During his younger days, Lyle was known for shoeing horses through the county. He loved all animals, especially his horses and ponies. One of his favorite pastimes was riding on the pony cart with his grandchildren and any other neighbors who felt like going downtown for an ice cream. He is survived by his wife of 59 1/2 years, Gert, and his family of five children: Lylette of Coalville, Joe William (Charlotte) of Evanston, WY, Robert Grant of Coalville, Boyd E. (Charlotte of Coalville, and DeLaun Lyle (Caroline) of Coalville, as well as 18 grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, 25 great-grand children, five step-great-grandchildren and his life long friend Bob Zumbrunnen, all of whom loved him very much. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, and a precious granddaughter, Melissa Willoughby. The family would like to extend their most sincere thanks to the staff, nurses, and doctors of the V.A. Medical Center and the Coalville Health Clinic for their years of dedicated care and kindness. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask for donations to be made to the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center or to Primary Children's Medical Center. Funeral Services will be held at the Coalville Stake Center on Wednesday, October 26, at 1:00 P.M. Family and friends may call for a viewing at Walker's Funeral Home, Coalville, Ut on Tuesday, October 25, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and at Wednesday at the church from 11:30 A.M. to 12:30 P.M. Email condolences to the family at www.walker-mortuary.com