John Frederick Lyon, devoted husband, cherished father, grandfather, and friend, passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024, at the age of 75. John was born on January 2, 1949, and was a native of Wilmington, NC & Jacksonville, FL. He is the son of the late Frederick Charles & Ethel Louise Whitehurst Lyon. He will be remembered most for his professional leadership, unwavering honesty, keen intellect & devotion to his family. John is a graduate of Samuel W. Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, FL (1967) & The University of Florida (1971) with a BA in Political Science. His passion for building construction, along with family ties, brought him back to North Carolina upon his graduation from college. It was in Tarboro, NC where he met and married Debbie. Together they would move to Winston-Salem, NC where John established Lyon Construction, one of his most cherished passions & sources of pride. On a whim in 1995, they bought an 80-acre farm in Mount Airy, NC, where they planted roots & spent nearly 30 years building a home & haven filled with joy. Beyond his professional achievements, John's true legacy lies in the love he shared with his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Debbie Millard Lyon; two daughters & son-in-law, Virginia Lyon & Abbie Lyon Engelhard & Cory Engelhard; and two grandchildren, Lyon & Charles Engelhard. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his brother, Charles Willet Lyon. John will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. His memory will be cherished by his family, friends, and all who were touched by his life. A service of worship and celebration of John’s life will be held at 3:00 PM on Sunday May 19, 2024, at Central United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Danny Miller officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 in lower foyer of the church. An inurnment will be held following the service at the columbarium at Oakdale Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Joan and Howard Woltz Hospice Home, 945 Zephyr Road, Dobson, NC 27017 or The Surry Animal Rescue, Post Office Box 981, Mount Airy, NC 27030. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Lyon family.
