Richard "Rich" Pye

Richard “Rich” Pye, 72, of Valdosta, died on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at South Georgia Medical Center. Born in Houma, LA to the late Clifford Francis & Devota Florence Broussard Pye, he has lived in Valdosta since 1985. Mr. Pye grew up in Houma and attended schools there. After high school, he soon joined the United States Air Force. During his career he served one tour in Vietnam and was stationed all over the United States to include the states of Michigan, Alaska, Mississippi, Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Georgia. His final station was Moody Air Force Base where he retired as a Captain in 1989 after 22 years of service. He went on to be a ROTC instructor at Valdosta State University and an IT instructor at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Mr. Pye was also hired to serve as the first IT Director for Lowndes County. He was deeply devoted to his family and enjoyed spending time with them and trying to provide their every need and desire. Mr. Pye was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Judy Pye of Valdosta; two daughters and a son in law, Deanna McLeod of Valdosta and Celina (& Jeffrey) Hanks of Prattville, AL; a son and daughter-in-law, Aaron & Heather Pye of Adel; five grandchildren, Amanda (& Joey) Herndon of Lake Park, Drew McLeod of Valdosta, Keirstin Gibson of Prattville, AL, Hunter Gibson of Prattville, AL, Olivia Kate Pye of Adel. Also surviving are five sisters, Diane Roche of Baton Rouge, LA, Helen Pye of Pensacola, FL, JoAnn (& Larry) Titus of Pensacola, FL, Louise (& Ronnie) Pertuit of Longview TX, Grace (& Ken) Hawkins of Pensacola, FL; a brother, John (& Barbara) Pye of Quitman a brother-in-law, Mike Caruso of Pensacola, FL and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister, Janet Caruso and a brother-in-law, Randy Roche.
A memorial service for Mr. Pye will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 11am. The burial of cremains, with military honors, will occur at Barrancas National Cemetery, in Pensacola, FL at that time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to KAIROS Prison Ministry or St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home