Ronald Clayton Lyons, 63, of Dunbar, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 6, 2007, at Thomas Memorial Hospital, South Charleston.

He was a beloved son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, great grandfather and friend to all. He loved his family, church, hunting, fishing, family gatherings, vacations and helping his neighbors in the community.

He served the Lord with gladness and thanksgiving for close to 50 years at Shiloh Independent Church, the former Humphreys Memorial United Methodist Church, and now the newly formed Dunbar United Methodist Church. He served as usher, greeter, trustee and drove the church van for many years to bring children and adults to church. His classmates of the Fellowship Class, past and present, were very close to his heart and he theirs.

He helped seniors in the community by mowing lawns and running errands in the evening for the past 25 years.

Ron retired from the State of WV in 2005, after 35 ½ years of service to Employment Security Programs and Worker's Compensation as a Premium Auditor. He worked for 20 months with Brickstreet Mutual Insurance.

He was born at Red House, the eldest child of Ernest Clayton and Irene Rutan Lyons on April 18, 1944. He spent his childhood and youth growing up in Eleanor in one of the original "homestead" homes, playing in the nearby woods, helping with gardening, fishing and hunting with his Dad, uncles and neighbors.

Ron was a 1962 graduate of Buffalo High School and graduated from WV State College with a B. S. in Business Administration and Accounting.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Anita Jan Lyons, grandson, Matthew Christopher Lyons, sister, Bernice K. Lyons Casto and his parents-in-law, John C. and Callie Carney Bryan, who loved him as a son.

In addition to his parents, who still live in Eleanor, he is survived by his wife of 41 ½ years, Barbara Ann Bryan Lyons; sons, Jeffrey D. Lyons and his wife, Angela, Jonathan C. Lyons, all of Dunbar; grandchildren, Stephanie Haston and husband, Mike, Mellissa Perrelli Hughes and husband, Glen, and Bryan Jeffrey Lyons; great granddaughters, Breanna Haston and Emily Hughes; sister, Edna Lyons Reedy and husband Raymond of Buffalo; brother, Bobby L. Lyons and wife, Pam of Cross Lanes; brother-in-law, Rick Casto of Pt. Pleasant; 2 nieces, 3 nephews, 5 great nephews, aunts, uncles and many cousins. Also, special family friends, Shirley Sergent, Beth Holley and Kim Thaxton Fleck.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Monday, December 10, at the Dunbar United Methodist Church, Myers Avenue Sanctuary, with the Rev. Dr. Okey B. Harless officiating. Burial will follow in Grandview Memorial Park.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, December 9, at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Dunbar United Methodist Church for care projects in the community.

The family extends a heartfelt thanks to the CCU staff at Thomas Memorial Hospital, Respiratory Therapy and Housekeeping for not only your tender care, but your friendship and support of our family.