Gordon Kenneth "Ken" Lyons

Gordon Kenneth Lyons, a retired executive, died at the Talbot Hospice House in Easton on September 5, 2009. He was 88 years of age. Born November 9, 1920 at Haymarket, Virginia, he was the son of the late, John William Lyons and Mary Tracy Harrell. After working at a critical job at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., he joined the U.S. Navy and served with distinction as a Chief Petty Officer in WW II with LCT Flotilla 4. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he landed in France and remained there until late November. He received the European-African Middle Eastern Theatre Medal; the American Theatre Campaign Medal; the Victory Medal World War II; the Normandy Invasion Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty; and the U.S. Navy Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Lyons lived in Manassas, Virginia from 1923 until 1936. He graduated from Washington and Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia in 1938. After attending The George Washington University, he was employed by International Business Machines Corporation for 37 years, retiring in 1985. His career was one of varied assignments for IBM as salesman, sales manager, and National Director of Sales Training. He excelled and won numerous awards during his tenure. After his retirement, Mr. Lyons worked in an administrative capacity with Inter-Rail Transport, Inc., in Centreville. Long associated with the Episcopal Church, he was a Lay Eucharistic Minister at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington D.C., St. Paul’s Parish in Centreville, and at Christ Episcopal Church in Easton. He had a lifelong involvement with the environment. His work with “The Clean Water Program” was a hallmark for him during the 1970s. A member of the Nature Conservancy, he was a director of the Colorado chapter. He was the representative of the Virginia Wildlife Association to the Legislature of the Commonwealth of Virginia. He worked with the Virginia Ornithological Society’s bird-banding station at Kiptopeke, Virginia for a number of years. He enjoyed time with his family and friends, books, music, poker, cribbage, fishing, observing the natural world, and a good pint of Guinness. Above all, he loved the countryside and the mystic Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Mr. Lyons is survived by the family he loved and was proud of: His wife, Sara Woods Lyons; his four sons: Gregory Kenneth and wife, Sharon of California; Douglas Keith of Virginia; John Bradford and wife, Elizabeth of California; MacNeil Burton and wife, Lucyna of Montana; his niece, Lael Lyons of Virginia; his grandchildren: Alicia Renee of Colorado; Jonathan Christopher of Virginia; Justin Michael and Jessica Nichol of California; his great-grandson, Declan Michael. A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church, Easton on Saturday, September 12 at 11:00 a.m. Mr. Lyons will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Yellowstone Association Institute, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; or the Talbot Hospice Foundation, 586 Cynwood Drive, Easton, MD 21601.

Gordon Kenneth "Ken" Lyons

November 9, 1920 - September 5, 2009