LYON, JR., Oscar T.

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, Arizona, Wednesday, December 19, 2012 Oscar T. Lyon, Jr. was born in Warren, Ark. on Nov. 8, 1918 to Oscar T. Lyon, Sr. and Belle (Parrish) Lyon. Although his parents were living in Florence, Ariz. his mother’s doctor advised her to go somewhere to escape the flu epidemic. She went to her home in Arkansas. They returned to Douglas, Ariz. in February, 1919. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Patricia Anne Lyon; and sisters, Mildred L Sowden and Kathleen Lyon Mulcahy. He is survived by a brother, Edgar P. Lyon, of Carlsbad, N.M. and nieces and nephews also survive him. He attended grade school in Lower Miami Schools and graduated from Miami High School in 1936. He enrolled at the University of Arizona and graduated in 1942 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was immediately employed in the construction of the Navajo Army ordinance Depot at Bellemont between Flagstaff and Williams. From there he joined the Navy and was commissioned an Ensign in the Civil Engineer Corps. He served with the 115th Naval Construction Battalion (Sea Bees) in New Guinea and the Philippines. In April, 1945, he was sent back to the States on detached duty. He was assigned to Camp Endicott, Davisville, R.I. The assignment was for Camp Endicott, Fort Belvoir, Va., Camp Lejeune, N.C. and Port Hueneme, Calif. The assignment was for additional training in heavy equipment and then reassignment, probably in the South Pacific. After the war with Japan ended, these orders were cancelled and he was assigned to the Station Force at Camp Endicott. Not long after reporting to Camp Endicott, he met a Navy Nurse, Patricia Anne Haley, who was assigned to the Base Hospital. They were married in the Base Chapel on Oct. 4, 1945. Upon Oscar’s release to inactive duty in April, 1946, they returned to his home, and her home, in Arizona. He was employed by the Arizona Highway Department on the Snowflake-Holbrook Highway. His progress through the ranks of the department began at that point with 13 moves the next 17 years. He advanced to District Engineer and served in three of the State’s five Districts. In 1963 he was appointed Assistant State Engineer, Operations in the main office in Phoenix. In 1977 he was appointed Assistant Director of the Department of Transportation and State Highway Engineer. Oscar retired in July, 1980 after 34 years with the Highway Department and its successor, the Arizona Department of Transportation. After retiring from ADOT, he was self-employed as a Consultant to several major Engineering Firms, retiring again in 1992. Throughout his career Oscar was active in both the Arizona Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Arizona Society of Professional Engineers. He was elected a National Director of ASCE and in 1992 he was honored by being selected as an Honorary Member of ASCE. He also has been active in the Masonic Fraternity. He served as Master of White Mountain Lodge in Globe in 1956 and in 1992 he was elected Grand Master for Arizona. He was Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons of Arizona in 1987. He was a member of Phoenix Scottish Rite Bodies and in 1997 he was coronated an Honorary Inspector General, 33۫۫. He also was a member of El Zaribah Shrine in Phoenix. Oscar received many honors and awards for his work in both Professional Engineering Societies and the Masonic Fraternity. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lyon Family Civil Engineering Scholarship Endowment Fund, University of Arizona Foundation, P.O. Box 210109, Tucson, AZ 85721-0109; Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014; or to the charity of your choice. A visitation service was held on Tuesday, Dec. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Messinger Indian School Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. at Central United Methodist Church, 1875 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.