Ralph Sherman Pyle, born June 9, 1926, died Jan. 26, 2008 in Langley.

Ralph Pyle played French horn with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for 36 years. During and after his tenure with the symphony, he taught well over a hundred horn students, many of whom went on to careers in musical education and professional orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Born in Hollywood and raised in Coronado, Calif., Ralph attended UCLA before joining the Navy. After World War II, he met and married Charlyne Baker, who would go on to a career with the American Ballet Theater in New York.

In 1952, Ralph and Charlyne returned to Los Angeles with their first child, Cathlyne, where Ralph began his long career with the Philharmonic.

After their son Rod was born in 1956, Ralph began his many years of teaching horn in area colleges and universities, including UCLA, Occidental College, Cal Arts, USC, the Claremont Colleges and Cal State Northridge.

After retirement in 1988, Ralph and Charlyne moved from Pasadena to Langley. There he enjoyed a long retirement until his death in January.

Besides a long career in music, Ralph was an ordained minister, founding his own religious teaching organization in 1968. He continued to study and reach out to others throughout his time in Washington, especially relishing performing weddings for numerous couples on Whidbey Island.

He is survived by wife Charlyne, daughter Cathlyne Talevich, son Rod, and grandchildren Alek, Eryn and Connor.

Ralph was a man who deeply affected and changed the lives of all who met him. He was a light in the darkness, a man of deep convictions and a healer of souls. We celebrate his passing as he would have us do, but he will be sorely and dearly missed.

Services were held on Feb. 2. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Habitat for Humanity.