Obituary of Lyle K. Coltrin

Lyle Kay Coltrin, 93, passed away on February 23, 2023.

Lyle was born on October 5, 1929, to Ether Harvey and Gwendolyn Coltrin, in Burley, Idaho. He was the fourth of 11 children.

After graduating from Boise High School and studying pre-law courses at Boise Junior College, Lyle joined the U.S, Air Force, where he served his country until his honorable discharge in 1952. He returned to the junior college for a year and then studied law and accounting for three years at the University of Nebraska as a Cornhusker, an affiliation he was proud of for the rest of his life.

In 1955, Lyle met Carol Marie Stark at an attorney’s office in Lincoln where they both worked while Lyle was attending college. Lyle and Carol wed in 1956, and their five children—Linda, Lois, Lorrie, Martin, and Jeffrey—completed their immediate family.

Lyle began his career in New Jersey as a program analyst for System Development Corporation, considered the world’s first computer software company. He soon was transferred and moved with his family to Santa Monica, California, and later to Northern Virginia. There, he left SDC to work for, and eventually retire from the federal government’s General Services Administration in Washington, D.C.

Far more significant than his working career, it was Lyle’s faith and commitment to his church that was the cornerstone of his life. He was called to and served in numerous positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including as counselor in the bishopric, high council member, stake president, patriarch, and temple worker.

As time allowed during his working career, Lyle got involved with his family history, and after retirement he dedicated much of his time to genealogy.

Retirement also allowed him to take up woodworking, mostly using a lathe to turn blocks of wood into bowls, vases, candlesticks, miniature Christmas trees, chess sets, and “wizarding” wands. Lyle delighted countless family members, neighbors, and friends of all ages with his creations.

He loved collecting coins, he loved crossword puzzles, he loved old cars, he loved falling asleep in front of the tv with his eyes half open, and he loved a good practical joke. He loved flying small airplanes. He loved his dogs. He loved his country. He loved his Heavenly Father. He loved his family. And we loved him.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Carol Coltrin; sisters AnnJean Scholer and Doreen Nelson, and brothers Howard Coltrin and Dean Coltrin; his children, Linda Kay Carter (Sterling), Lois Marie Douthitt (Jack), Lorrie Ann Ellison (Dell), Martin Lee Coltrin (Stacy), and Jeffrey H Coltrin (Tami); 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by sister Lois Coltrin Matteoni and brothers Doyle Coltrin, Lawrence Coltrin, Steve Coltrin, Ted Coltrin, and VeLoy (Spike) Coltrin.

Funeral services will be held on March 1, 10 a.m., at the Gilbert Arizona Higley Stake Center, 1865 S. Higley Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85295, followed by a private family burial at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. Flowers can be sent to the stake center and will be donated to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after the service. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated by the ASPCA or a local dog shelter.

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