William Russell "Russ" Pyle

William Russell "Russ" Pyle, 83, of Surprise, AZ, passed from this earth on Tuesday, August 12, 2025 surrounded by his loving wife Heidi and his bonus son Matthew Miller. Russ was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother-in-law, advisor and friend to many. He was generous, hard-working, sensitive yet strong, and quick to provide advice or tell a joke, with the aim to inject the optimism, humor and hope that defined his character. He was blessed with an extended family, and was actively engaged in the lives of his children and grandchildren - frequently telling stories - both real and imaginary. Russ loved to play bridge and poker, read, watch movies, watch the Phillies, and attend lectures and concerts - as he had a life long love of learning and playing. He also dedicated his life to providing for those he loved, taking pride in supporting the education of his grandchildren. He was quick to make friends, and took seriously the trust his friends, clients and family had in him.

Russ was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia on August 22 ,1941 and lived there with his parents Jessie (Russell) and David Speakman Pyle until they divorced in 1944. Then he and his mother moved in with his maternal grandparents, "Didi" (William Bell Russell) and "Mommoy" (Martha Russell) who both were born in Maybole, Ayrshire, Scotland and immigrated to the United States, settling in Wilmington, Delaware. This family formed his foundation and he was raised in a loving household, growing up to value family, education and a strong work ethic. He met the first love of his life, Nancy Dashiell, as a junior high school student and they married August 18th, 1962 during his junior year at the University of Florida. In high school he worked as a movie theatre usher and at a jeweler- where he learned the lifelong skill of beautiful gift wrapping. His early jobs were physically demanding, janitorial work at the bakery and factory work at Electric Hose and Rubber. After he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in History in 1963, Russ and Nan returned to Wilmington. After a brief stint at law school, he taught school and completed his Masters Degree in History from the University of Delaware. After the birth of his two beloved daughters, Stephanie in 1967 and Melanie in 1968, he became a school textbook sales rep for The Economy Company. The combination of sales, people and business skills with a focus on people, integrity and education was a perfect fit and he excelled, ultimately being promoted to National Sales Manager and being relocated to Oklahoma in 1976. His grandfather Didi and his mother, Jessie, moved in with the family in Oklahoma in 1980 following her cancer diagnosis. Following her death in 1981, Russ was honored to support Didi living with the family until he died in 1988. Didi was a strong force in Russ's life, shaping the role model of a hard-working, loving, provider for the family.

Then in 1991, Russ embraced new opportunities and changed careers mid-life, becoming a financial advisor for Smith Barney and then moved to Merrill Lynch in 2004. He had a successful career, with a passion for personalized advice for his clients - many of whom consider him a friend. He was supported by great colleagues, none more impactful than his daughter Melanie who worked as his client associate throughout most of his career, and his partner Justin Covey. Russ was fascinated and buoyed by the serendipity of life, and how seemingly random connections impacted his professional and personal life - including those that brought him into teaching (classmate at law school), school book publishing (John Tressler), from Delaware to Oklahoma (John Simonelli), to the brokerage business (Tom Ridgway). He was most proud of how his professional successes impacted others- whether clients who were planning for retirement, or his family. He was an active and involved father, hosting high school prom parties, serving as a church youth leader, manning the grill for pool parties, and embracing friends and family. He and Nan hosted three exchange students and supported his daughters to be exchange students, broadening his family and view of the world well before he himself traveled internationally.

Russ was a constant stalwart as his wife Nancy experienced significant health challenges. During her kidney transplant, her cancer treatments, and the transplants of their daughter Melanie, Russ branded the family events with hope, humor and love, providing avenues for connection and support throughout the uncertainty and difficult times. Russ and Nan enjoyed cruises, traveling, spending time with extended family, and spending time doting on their grandchildren. They were loving partners who modeled unconditional love and commitment, and experienced 53 wonderful years of marriage until her death in 2016.

God blessed Russ with Heidi, the second love of his life, and her love and vitality truly saved him from a broken heart. They loved each other dearly, and after his retirement in 2017 they moved to Surprise, Arizona and forged a new life, marrying on June 22, 2019. They had a shared love of food, playing bridge, music, movies, and enjoying their new bonus families. Russ and Heidi enjoyed cruising, with a honeymoon trip to Northern Europe, and other trips to New York, Alaska, Spain and through the Panama Canal. They hosted numerous visits from his devoted grandchildren, with whom he spoke often, regaling stories, telling jokes, providing advice and support, embodying his love, and also making new memories. Russ was a life-long, and long-suffering Phillies fan, and Heidi was a willing student and they enjoyed watching games together. He embraced and enjoyed his new life in Arizona where they made many friends, and he especially treasured his friends in the Grand poker club. Russ and Heidi became a hub for family with Russ's sister-in-law Kathy Dashiell moving across the street in 2019. They enjoyed following the Phillies and playing cards together, and she was a cherished companion. Heidi's daughter Stacy and husband Roy recently moved to the area, and in early August Heidi's son Matthew was moving to the area. Russ was looking forward to further deepening his relationship with his bonus son.

Russ navigated health challenges in his later years, and Heidi was a doting partner who lovingly supported him. Despite limitations, he was committed to traveling and was always planning for the future with optimism and hope. He recently travelled to Massachusetts and New Hampshire to celebrate a family wedding and was blessed to enjoy time with so many family members.

Surviving Russ are his wife, Heidi, of Surprise, AZ, his two daughters' families: Stephanie & Bill Chissoe of Gig Harbor, WA (grandchildren Billy & Laine Chissoe of Lunenberg, MA and Russell Chissoe of Claymont, DE), Melanie & Mark Darrow of Norman, OK (grandchildren Kayla & Lance Baldwin of Norman, OK with great-grandchildren Nathaniel, Elliana, James and Everest Baldwin, Kevin & Camryn Darrow of Yukon, OK, and Blake Darrow of Norman, OK), his sister-in-law Kathy Dashiell of Surprise, AZ and her daughters' families: Lou & Brent Montgomery of Henderson, NV (Rowan Hoffman and Vanca Fain of Las Cruces, NM and Trevor Hoffman of Oxford, PA), Lori & Rod Hoffman of Landenberg, PA (Casey Hoffman & Steve Sowden of Wilmington Manor, DE and Carly Hoffman of Newark, DE), his bonus son Allan Miller of Los Angeles CA, his bonus daughter Stacy Carmen and her family, husband Roy Carmen of North Scottsdale, AZ daughter Lindsey of Woodmere, NY and son Jacob of West Linn, OR), and his bonus son Matthew Miller of Scottsdale, AZ. Russ is also survived by his nieces Deb (Dashiell) & Mick Warner, and Christine (Dashiell) Johnson, Adam & Tara Barrowclough, Aaron & Laura Barrowclough, Pam & Jerry Wright and their families. He is also survived by his foreign exchange student daughters Svetlana Nikolovska, Marina Jerger, and Ayse Guclu Onur and their families.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research give.michaeljfox.org or the Arthritis Foundation arthritis.org.