Lyle Lee Whybrew, 73, of Athens, Ohio, passed away peacefully under great care at The Lindley Inn on October 19, 2025. He was born in LaPorte, Indiana, in 1951 to Lillian Laverne Smith and Ernest Earl Whybrew. Lyle attended Fairborn High School before studying Music Education at Bowling Green State University, where he was a devoted Marching Falcon, choir member, and Kappa Kappa Psi brother. He served in the Army Reserves, taught Drum and Bugle Corps at Culver Military Academy, and worked as an EMT.

Lyle taught music at Rushmore Elementary School, where he met the love of his life, Michealee Frances Schoch Whybrew. They married in 1993 and were blessed in 1996 with their daughter, Kelly. He retired in 2004 after 30 years at Rushmore Elementary, Lyle continued his education at Antioch University in Yellow Springs, earning his Master of Arts degree. Throughout his college and professional career, he received numerous awards—most recently being inducted into an organization he helped found, the Huber Heights Performing Arts Hall of Fame.

Lyle was a gracious and generous man who had many hobbies and passions surrounding teaching, music, and the arts. He loved attending Dayton Dragons games and the Indy 500, traveling the world, woodworking, and spending time with friends and family. His faith was very important to him and guided his kind heart throughout his life.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Lillian and Ernie; his wife of 25 years, Michealee (Micki); his grandparents, Homer and Ethel Collins and Elmer and Edna Whybrew; two stepbrothers, Bob and Dick Smith; and one stepsister, Debra Bunnell.

He is survived by his daughter, Kelly Whybrew, and her husband, Ben Buchanan; his sister, Kay (Eric) Rossok; his brother, Randy (Joyce) Whybrew; his stepsister, Shari (Ron) McIlvain; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews who adored him.

All services will be held at FRINGS AND BAYLIFF FUNERAL HOME, 327 W. Main St., Tipp City, Ohio 45371. A visitation will take place on Monday, October 27, from 3–7 p.m., and the funeral service will be held on Tuesday, October 28, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Association or the Dayton Foundation for the "Lyle and Micki Whybrew Scholarship Fund" would be greatly appreciated.

Alzheimers Association of Dayton
6077 Far Hills Ave #117, Dayton OH 45459
Tel: 1-937-291-3332
Web: http://alz.org/dayton

Dayton Foundation: Lyle and Micki Whybrew Scholarship Fund
1401 S. Main Street, Suite 100, Dayton OH 45409