Robert E. Pyle

ROBERT E. PYLE, 76
Ret. Circuit Judge

LAKE ALFRED - Retired Circuit Judge Robert E. Pyle, 76, died Tuesday, October 6, 2009 of respiratory failure at The Mayo Clinic.
Bob was born November 1, 1932 in St. Petersburg to Earl and Juanita Pyle. His parents and two siblings, Eugene Pyle and Evelyn Scaglione, preceded him in death.
Following graduation from St. Petersburg High School in 1950, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the Korean War as a forward observer and directed close air support from Corsair fighter aircraft as well as naval and land-based artillery.
Bob and Jackie Town were married on December 26, 1955. Bob earned his BSBA degree at University of Florida. He then commenced studies at Stetson Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1962. He then served as an assistant Pinellas County Attorney in Clearwater. Bob moved his family and practice to Polk County where he joined Ray McDaniel and Jack Edmund in Lake Alfred. Bob continued to practice law in Lake Alfred for 22 years.
In the early nineteen eighties, Bob was elected by the lawyers of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, comprised of Polk, Highlands and Hardee Counties, to represent them on the Florida Bar Board of Governors. He was recognized and commended by the Florida Bar President and the Florida Supreme Court for his pro bono work, during which he devoted countless hours to representing the poor and destitute. He was the municipal judge in Lake Alfred from 1967 until 1977. He was an adjunct professor at Polk Community College and a citrus grower. In 1989, Bob was appointed by then-Governor Bob Martinez to serve as a Circuit Judge.
Bob was a devoted family man, married nearly 54 years to Jackie, father of Bob, Jr. and Jim Pyle, Pat (Barry) Walker and Betsy (Chris) Zinsmeister, and doting grandfather of Heather Walker (Todd) Giacometti, Chase Walker and Zachary and Olivia Zinsmeister and a great-granddaughter, Nora June Giacometti.
He served many years on the Board of Directors of Grace Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, and served two terms as President of the congregation. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, and a member and leader of many civic, religious, professional and service organizations. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman, and had retreats in the Florida Keys and Maggie Valley, North Carolina, where he enjoyed being with friends and family, and just looking at the mountains.
Bob was loved dearly, and will be profoundly missed by all who knew him.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Friday, October 9 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care on Havendale Blvd in Winter Haven. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00pm, Saturday, October 10 at Grace Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers please make memorial donations to Grace Lutheran Church, 327 Avenue C, SE, Winter Haven, FL or to Mayo Clinic Pulmonary Research, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224. Condolences may be sent at www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.