Ralph Edward Pyke, Ph.D., 82, of Denton, died Monday February 1, 2010 at Denton Good Samaritan Village.
Dr. Pyke was born on January 15, 1928 in Abilene, Kansas to Roy William and Ruth C. (Gish) Pyke. He was married to Barbara Velesta Kinnard on April 12, 1958 in Denton. He graduated from Abilene High School in 1946; received a Bachelors degree in Chemistry in 1950 from Baker University in Baldwin, KS; received a Masters in 1952 and a Ph.D. in biochemistry in 1956 from Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
Dr. Pyke taught at Sanger High School and was at Texas Woman's University for twenty-one years. He also had a career in photography and operated Pyke Photography with his wife for twenty years. He photographed weddings, sports teams, proms, and other events as well as families.
Dr. Pyke enjoyed camping for many years and helped organize the Pitch and Hitch Camping Club, he also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was active in the Photographic Society of America; Dallas Camera Club; Gulf States Camera Club Council; held offices in all three and was a star exhibitor and judge in photojournalism, monochrome and color prints. He also volunteered at Denton Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Pyke loved to travel, having visited all fifty states, most of the states in Mexico, and provinces in Canada; toured the British Isles, Australia and New Zealand, as well as much of Europe, he has been on over twenty cruises.
A visitation will be held at 1:00 PM until funeral service time at 2:00 PM Saturday February 6, 2010 in the chapel of Mulkey-Mason, Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust, Denton, TX. Rev. Buddy Owens will officiate the service and Renay Statum will give vocal tribute in song. Interment will follow at Jackson Cemetery in Krum, TX.
Pallbearers will be: Tom Pyke, Dale Pyke, Kenneth Pyke, David Pyke, Jason Daniels, Chris Henderson.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Pyke of Denton; son, Ralph David Pyke and his wife Suzanne of Dallas; brother, Kenneth R. Pyke and his wife Carole of Abilene, KS; grandchildren, Jennifer Henderson and her husband Chris, Jill Daniels and her husband, Jason, Julie Hicks and her husband, Jason; great grandchildren, Addison, Austin, Max, Rylie, Caden, Kalie, Jackson, Colton; nieces and nephews and families and friend, Diana Pyke of Denton. He was preceded in death by his son, Steven Jay Pyke on April 23, 2009.
Memorials may be made to APDA, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305; or National Parkinson Foundation, 1501 N.W. 9th Ave., Bob Hope Rd., Miami, FL 33136; or Parkinson's and Caregivers Together, c/o Jean Seward, 111 Industrial, Denton, TX 76201; or to a charity of your choice.