Jim Pyle

1928 - 2000

JIM PYLE July 14, 1928 to October 23, 2010 Born July 14, 1928 in Idabel, OK, Jim passed away on October 23, 2010 in Riverside, CA. Jim was raised in Deming, NM where he became interested in airplanes through his local Boy Scout Troop. This turned into a lifelong passion and through most of his life a career as he worked for several aircraft and space product companies. After graduating high school he joined the Army Air corps/Airforce and served as a crew chief on the first jet fighters, F-80\'s and F-86\'s. After discharging from the Airforce he went to Wichita, KS to work for Beechcraft and Cessna Aircraft while going to night school. While in Wichita he met Imogene Holmes, they married in 1953. Jim and Imogene moved to Tulsa, OK where he earned his A&E License at Spartan School of Aeronautics. In 1959 they moved with their son, Jim Jr., to Riverside, CA where Jim had accepted a job at Rohr Industries. In the early 1960\'s Jim and Imogene welcomed daughters Valerie and Heather into their family. In 1970 Jim changed careers and started working in the real estate market. In 1973 he opened his own office, Riverside Realty. Jim and Imogene developed a successful business in real estate sales and property management. Jim was active in the local Board of Realtor\'s serving as president, vice-president and was on the ethics board. During the real estate downturn in the early 1980\'s Jim was able to return to Rohr Industries while his family ran the real estate business. After retiring from Rohr in the early 1990\'s Jim continued his real estate business and became involved in the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter 1 located at historic Flabob Airport. Flabob soon became Jim\'s home away from home as he was drawn to the people at the airport who shared his enthusiasm for airplanes. The EAA Chapter 1 was just what Jim had been looking for and he would be active in the chapter serving as chapter president, vice president and tech advisor. He made numerous trips to the EAA summer fly-in at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. He would drive cross country, many times by himself, to attend this annual event. Along the way he would stop at small airports to visit with other EAA chapter members and just talk airplanes. Over the years he developed many friendships and was an ambassador for Chapter 1. Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife, Imogene, and leaves his son Jim Jr., daughters Valerie and Heather and grandchildren, Cori James, Courtney and Kelley. Other surviving family members include niece, Rita Holmes of Oklahoma and her family, Elmer and Martha Brawley of Kansas and Mildred Samuskewicz and Kathryn Kier of Nebraska and their families. A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at 11:30am in the EAA Chapter 1 Hanger located at Flabob Airport, 4130 Mennes Avenue in Riverside, CA 92509. The family request that in lieu of flowers donations are made to the Experimental Aircraft Association Chapter One in the name of Jim Pyle at P.O. Box 3667, Riverside, CA 92519.