Billy D. Lyda

Billy D. Lyda, 77, of Topeka, died Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at Manor Care Health Center. He was born on October 10, 1927 in Alanta, Missouri, the son of Orbra Ray and Flossie Clarice Sackett Lyda. Bill joined the Santa Fe Railway in Topeka in 1943. In 1945, he joined the Army/Air Force where he obtained the rank of Corporal before returning to the Santa Fe Shops in 1947 as a carman. He was active in Shawnee Lodge No. 6887 and served in various office positions and as Local Chairman in 1960. In 1974, he was elected to the fulltime position of Assistant General Chairman of the Santa Fe Joint Protective Board, and was elected General Chairman in 1982. He retired on August 31, 1991 as General Chairman and representative of the carmen employees of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, Amtrak, the Peoria and Pekin Union Railway Co. and the American Allied Railway Equipment Co. During that tenure he also served as Chairman of the Carmen Division General Executive Board and as a member of the Transportation Communications International Union board of trustees. He married Mildred T. "Mickey" Walter on December 17, 1948 in Topeka. They were divorced. They have two sons, Richard A. Lyda, Sr. of Lyndon, Ks., Dennis D. Lyda of Carbondale and one daughter, Janice K. Black of Carbondale, sixteen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. He married Dolores J. "Dee" Rose on January 25, 1977 in Topeka. She has one daughter, Kristy L. Clayton, and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, Bernell R. Lyda in January of 1997. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery. Mr. Lyda will lie in state after 2:00 p.m. Thursday at Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7:0-8:00 p.m. Thursday evening. Memorial contributions may be given the Alzheimers Association, P.O. Box 1427, Topeka, Ks. 66601-1427 or Heart of America Hospice, 3715 S.W. 29th St., Suite 20, Topeka, Ks. 66614.