Harry “Skip” Kyle
Harry Walter ‘Skip’ Kyle was born on December 15, 1955, in Covington, Kentucky, to Harry Walter and Julia Jane Compton Kyle. Unfortunately, he left us, much too soon, on January 14, 2021, due to a heart attack. He was 65 years old.
He is survived by his three sisters, Sharon (Don) Kruse, Christina (Durward) Casteel, and Carla (Tony) Vandenoever, Aunt Connie Kinney Compton, three first cousins that he was raised with and looked upon as siblings, Carl (Stephanie) Compton, William (Michele) Compton, and Janie Compton (John) Bailey, and first cousin Kim (Rick) Orbin.
Skip had nine nieces and nephews, Scott (Patty) Kruse, Pam (Jessica) Kruse, Nikki (Matt) Kruse, Erin (Dax) Fiore, Emily, Audriana, and Christina Vandenoever, James and Lukas Casteel, Holly (Ralph) Schmitt and Roy Orbin. He was also blessed with ten great nieces and nephews, and dozens of beloved cousins scattered throughout America. Skip also had friends, too numerous to name, but you know who you are and how much you meant to him.
Skip was preceded in death by his parents, Harry Kyle and Jane Kyle Leonard, his stepfather, James Leonard, great grandmother, Lula Price Mills, great grandfather, Howard Compton, grandmothers, Elizabeth “Babe” Compton and Helen Kyle, uncle and aunt Roy and Vivian Watkins, and uncle William “Bill” Compton, whom he looked up to as a father.
Anyone who knew Skip quickly recognized his deep love of Portsmouth High School sports (Class of 1974), his Cleveland Brownies, and The Ohio State Buckeyes. He was an excellent athlete and proudly played football and ran track for the PHS Trojans. He was also an all-state wrestler for Portsmouth High and was awarded a full wrestling scholarship to Urbana College. He completed his education and received his bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University.
Skip was also a Mason, who was a member of the Rome Lodge, #535, and was honored to serve as Past Worshipful Master of Rome in 1998.
He was the owner and operator of Kyle Signs for nearly 45 years, promoted the motivational tool, Countdown-to-Kickoff sign, to athletic programs across the country, and was proud to see it used in dozens of programs from Ohio State to West Point and high schools across America.
He loved working with and encouraging kids and spent many years working tirelessly with his beloved Trojans Boosters, supporting their efforts to address the needs and the moral of hundreds of student athletes at PHS.
Services for Skip will be held Saturday, January 23, 2021, with visitation from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. A Masonic Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service following at D.W. SWICK FUNERAL HOME (WOLFE – NELSON CHAPEL), 5951 Gallia Street, Sciotoville, Ohio, with internment in his family plot at Friendship Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be William “Bill” Compton, Nathan Compton, Tyler Compton, Tony Vandenoever, Randy Allen and Brandon Murphy. Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Compton, Don Kruse, John Bailey, Rick Orbin and Durward Casteel.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to Portsmouth High School Trojans Boosters or The Wounded Warrior Project.
Skip Kyle was a good man who never met a stranger and was constantly the Good Samaritan to both man and beast. His presence will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Godspeed, good fellow. We will never forget you.
We kindly ask that mourners please wear their face masks and practice social distancing. We pray to keep our friends and family safe from Covid in these sad times.
