Latest revision as of 05:03, 23 February 2025

Gordon Kyle was born on Jan. 10, 1933 at Munhall, Alleghany Co., Pittsburgh metro, Pennsylvania to Charles Edward Kyle (b. 1901 PA - d. 1966 Mt. Hermon, CA) & Annie "Nan" Collins Peat Kyle (b. 1904 Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scot. - d. 1981 Santa Cruz, CA). Charles Kyle was employed as a machinist at U.S. Steel from 1915-1965, beginning at the age of 14, and a member of the United Steelworkers, a North American general union based in Pittsburgh. In its first full year of operations (1902), U.S. Steel produced 67% of all the steel made in the U.S.

At the age of twelve, Gordon had the largest paper route in the Pittsburgh area, and had his first picture in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette as "Top Newsboy Supports Babe Ruth Cancer Fund". From +1940-1950+, Gordon had a foster brother, a fellow paperboy, William J. Wright Sr. (1935-2008 Pittsburgh, PA), son of Harry Wright (1897-1955 Pitt., PA) & Charlotte J. Moelk Wright (1901-1975 Pitt., PA). In 1940, another foster brother was included, Bernard Gardner (b. 1933 PA).

According to his autobio, Gordon came to know the Lord thru faithful parents and a S.S. teacher, Agnes Moran, at the Beechwood Bible Chapel, an open brethren assembly in Pittsburgh, now known as Browns Hill Bible Chapel. His mother was later (1981) a member of First Baptist of San Lorenzo in Felton.

He studied journalism at Northwestern in Minneapolis, and also graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with his M.Div. He entered the U.S. Army as a chaplain, commended from his assembly, retiring in 1987 after serving 37 years. While serving in the Army, his assignments included duty at the Berlin Wall in 1961, and two combat assignments in Vietnam and Korea. He was awarded five bronze stars, a meritorious service medal, eight combat Air medals and three commendation medals. A compression fracture of his mid-spin received in Vietnam caused a number of challenges, as did a subsequent car wreck.

Gordon married Ruth A. Pelz (b. 1932 MN - d. 2010) for at least 48 years. Ruth was a daughter of Ben R. Pelz (b. 1889 Livingston Co., IL - d. 1966 Redwood Co., MN) & Evelyn Leah "Eva" Loban Pelz (b. 1893 Blairsburg, Hamilton IA - d. 1964 Redwood Falls, MN). Eva Pelz's paternal great-grandfather was Thomas Loban III (b. 1779 Aberdeen, Scot. - d. 1872 Marengo, McHenry, IL) who was farming Marengo by 1846, possibly as early as 1842, two years before a post office was established there.

Gordon and Ruth have three children. Their home of nearly 40 years was at 5 The Buckeye Ave., Felton, which was 80 miles south of San Francisco, California and in the backyard of Mt. Hermon Conference Center where decades of open brethren conferences were held.

He indicated in his '03 autobio excerpts, "I enjoy writing, our grandchildren, and working in the garden (not necessarily in that order). See other chaplains. Gordon was promoted to Glory on Nov. 27, 2006 at the age of 73. Memorials were recommended towards the American Bible Society and the Gideons.

Reports

1960's

Letters of Interest: LOI 1960's:

• LOI 1960-9&10: An Army Chaplain Reports

• LOI 1962-3: Charles G. Kyle is appointed 1st Lieutenant: "The status of the following named chaplain has been changed as indicated: Chaplain Charles G. Kyle appointed 1st Lieutenant [by] Frank A. Tobey, Chief of Chaplains, U.S.A."

• LOI 1963-2: The Life of a Chaplain on a Missile Unit

Sources

• 2003 Biographical Summary, courtesy of Dr. Ken Botton on 2-21-2025
• Ancestry.com
• Letters of Interest (LOI) 1960:9-10; 1962-3; 1962-3