07/16/2018

Obituary for A. Ray Kyle

Funeral Director and Owner of Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home

There will be services held at 1PM on Tuesday July 17, 2018 at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home for A. Ray Kyle age 86, of Hubbard who passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday July 13, 2018 at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in Warren.

Ray was born October 3, 1931 in Warren, Ohio a son of Wilber D. & Bernice Johnson Kyle. He was a 1949 graduate of Hubbard High School and attended Youngstown College from 1949 to 1951, and graduated from Cleveland College of Mortuary Science in 1952.

Ray was a licensed funeral director and embalmer starting in 1954, and was the operator of Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home from 1955 to 1963, and in 1963 became the owner. He was a member of National Funeral Directors Association, Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and Tri-County Funeral Directors where he had served as past president.

Ray’s commitment to his community was unwavering, and his service reached beyond the funeral home. He was a charter member of Hubbard Rotary Club having over 58 consecutive years of perfect attendance, was a past president from 1960-1961, and a nine time recipient of Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of Hubbard Historical Society, Hubbard Chamber of Commerce, president of Hubbard Unit of the Salvation Army for 30 years, and treasurer for many years for Hubbard Toys for Tots. He also was a fireman for the Hubbard Volunteer Fire Department from 1956 to 1963.

He served on the Harding Park Board of Directors for over 20 years and was committed to keeping the park a safe and beautiful place for all Hubbard residents and visitors to enjoy.

Ray had a passion for antique cars and over the years enjoyed many over the road endurance trips throughout the United States. He was a member of Antique Automobile Club of America, Snapper’s Brass & Gas Touring Region, Ohio Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America where he had served as past-president, Meander Chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of American where he had also served as past-president, and Classic Car Club of America, Southern Florida Region where he served as treasurer and membership chairmen for a number of years.

He was a Mason, and was a member of Western Star Lodge #21 F&AM, St. John’s Commandery #20 KT, Royal Arch Masons of Ohio, and Al Koran Shrine Temple of Cleveland. Ray was a member of Grace Lutheran Church of Hubbard where he had served on church council and the finance committee.

He was a veteran of the United States Army serving during the Korean War from 1953-1955.

Ray will be sadly missed by his family; his loving wife the former Diane J. Chufo whom he married September 6, 1952, his son David J. Kyle, his daughter-in-law Janice L. Kyle, his grandson Benjamin (Sable) Kyle all of Hubbard, and his great grandchildren Greyson and Sophia.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Timothy R. Kyle and his sister Jane M. Fields.

There will be calling hours on Monday July 16, 2018 from 4-7 PM and Tuesday July 17, 2018 prior to the service from 11 AM to 1 PM at Stewart-Kyle Funeral Home.

Ray will be laid at rest at Hubbard Union Cemetery with full military honors provided by Trumbull County American Legion Honor Guard Post # 540.

Ray’s dedication to Hubbard was remarkable and to continue his legacy, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Hubbard Harding Park P.O. Box 177 Hubbard, Ohio 44425.

Special thanks to Dr. Howard Slemons for his many years of dedicated care given to Ray and to his own personal nurse Kathy Stein for all her kindness.

Family and friends are invited to visit the funeral home’s website at www.stewart-kyle.com to share memories and condolences.