Richard C. Lyons

Richard C. Lyons unexpectedly went home to his Lord on January 2, 2023.  Dick was born in Hartford, CT in 1937 to the late Charles and Gertrude Lyons.  He was preceded in death by his brother David.  He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Janice, and children; Charles, Lisa Pianalto (David), Judah (Rebecca), Elizabeth Brown (Seth), and Hagazi Kebede (Carolyn); grandchildren Jacob Pianalto, Joanna Brown, Isaac Brown, Andrea (LeVon) Young, Laura Kebede, and Bhailu Kebede and 2 great-grandchildren.

Dick graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served in the Peace Corps in India.  Following a six month journey through Asia on his way home, he married Janice and they returned to India as missionaries. An avid traveler in his younger days, he kept up with friends from all over the world for decades.

The family moved to the beautiful mountains of North Carolina in 1976. Educated in the era of slide rules, mechanical pencils, and blueprints, Dick worked as an engineer at local companies but at home he loved feeding the birds in the backyard and used his design skills to thwart squirrels.  He also tinkered with fix-it projects on the kitchen table and was often under the hood of a car.

In the early days of Asheville-Buncombe Youth Soccer Association, he captured hundreds of smiles with his trusty 35mm camera as a team photographer and was blessed by seeing so many players grow up over the years.  He was a volunteer tutor in the Shiloh After School program and made some lifelong friendships. In retirement he appreciated the opportunity to serve in the Kairos Prison Ministry.  Throughout his life he had a heart for persecuted Christians around the world.

Dick loved body surfing in the waves during family vacations and was the first one in the water and the last one out. If there is a “Green Monster” in heaven, as a long-suffering Red Sox fan, he will be right there rooting for his team. He liked old movies, did math problems for fun, backhanded badminton birdies with senior friends, was a formidable Scrabble opponent, and was absolutely merciless when playing backyard croquet.  A practical joker, he tormented his children on April Fools’ Day with elaborate pranks which led to their resilience (and skepticism) as adults.  While he could be a curmudgeon, he was also a bit of a romantic.  He never forgot a Valentine's Day and gave his wife a trophy on their 50th anniversary.

Although struggling with decreased mobility this last year with Parkinson’s, he enjoyed taking a scenic helicopter flight accompanied by his pilot son, soaking in the sun from an oceanfront balcony overlooking the Atlantic, and spending time with grandkids during Christmas. Now he's finally Home.

A celebration of life is planned for April 1 at 2 PM at Destiny Church, Brevard.  Memorials may be made to Persecution Project www.persecutionproject.org or Kairos Prison Ministry www.kairosprisonministry.org.  The family thanks the Little River Volunteer Fire Department, Transylvania Regional Hospital, and Asheville Mortuary Services.

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