Obituary

Retired Colonel Lew Gary Tyree, 73, of Charleston, WV, passed away January 27, 2025, surrounded by his family and his best friend and wife, Belinda.

He was born in Charleston, WV, on August 13, 1951, the seventh of thirteen siblings born to the late John Shadrach and Frances Ann (Nowell) Tyree. Lew would often reflect on how blessed he was, his love of life and his personal relationship with God. He was a charismatic beam of light for all lucky enough to know him. Lew poured childlike joy into his daily interactions with his family and friends and leaves behind an unforgettable legacy of kindness, selflessness, hard work, and love for his family. He taught us through his daily actions how to lead, the meaning of integrity, and the importance of a service-driven life. To say his family, friends, Kappa Alpha Psi brothers and colleagues are devastated by his loss is an understatement.

Lew was born in the Washington Manor project in the Triangle District of Charleston, WV, and lived most of his primary and secondary education years on the East End of Charleston, WV, on Piedmont Road, near Laidley Field. Lew attended Kanawha Elementary School (1957-1963), Roosevelt Jr. High (1963-1966), Charleston High School (1966-1968), and graduated from St. Albans High School (June 1969). Lew graduated with a B.S. Marketing degree from West Virginia State University in 1973 as a distinguished military student. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the WVU School of Law in 1979 and graduated from the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government for Senior Executives in State and Local Government in 2001. Lew’s legal career included serving as a partner in the law firm Dues, Tyree and Hicks from 1982-1985, a brief period in solo practice, and a 30-year career at the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, where he served as general counsel and retired in 2012. As a senior leader at the agency, Lew served as an advisor to the Executive Director and worked on matters relating to real estate loan administration, property issues, contracts and personnel related issues. Lew had memberships in the American Bar Association and the WV Bar Association.

While practicing as an attorney, Lew also had an accomplished military career spanning over 30 years, culminating in his retirement as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserves in 2003. He was a graduate of the Signal Officers Basic Course, the Ammunition Officers Advance Course, Command and General State Officer Course and earned a Master’s degree in Strategic Planning from the Army War College in Carlisle, PA. Ret. Colonel Tyree’s military service included: Platoon Leader, Battalion Staff Officer, Company Commander, Battalion Executive Officer, Battalion Commander, Group Executive Officer, USARF School Commander, Commanding General Staff Officer, State Emergency Preparation Officer and he ended his career as the Commander of the 38th Ordnance Group in Charleston, WV. As 38th Group Commander, Ret. Colonel Tyree was responsible for over 4,000 soldiers in the states of West Virginia, Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. In January 2003, Ret. Colonel Tyree led the first mobilization of the 38th Ordnance Group while taking the Command to Kuwait to manage ammunition operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Ret. Colonel Tyree was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his command tenure in Iraq.

Ret. Colonel Tyree returned from Iraq to retire from the Army Reserves on May 31, 2003. He received many awards and honors, including the Army Legion of Merit, five Army Meritorious Service Medals, four Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal, five Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals, National Defense Service Medal (2nd), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with “M” Device (2nd), Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserves Components Overseas Training Ribbon (2nd) and the Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe Award. Ret. Colonel Tyree also chaired the Reserve Officers Ammunition Advisory Board at Redstone Arsenal Alabama for numerous years. The Chief of Army Reserve appointed Ret. Colonel Tyree to the Two-Star Civilian position as a United States Army Reserve Ambassador for the State of West Virginia, where he served from 2003-2004. In 1982, Governor John D. Rockefeller IV presented him with the “Outstanding West Virginian Award.” In 2003, Governor Bob Wise presented Lew with his second Distinguished West Virginian Award. Lew was deeply committed to volunteer and community service, in addition to his legal and military careers. He held leadership roles on multiple boards and commissions, including serving as Commissioner with the City of Charleston Civil Service Police Commission, Commissioner of the WV Human Rights Commission, President and Vice-Chair of the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority Board, Chairperson of the WV Rehabilitation Board of Trustees, and Vice President of the Board of Charleston Chapter of the Military Officer Association of America. He served on numerous additional boards and groups, including the Charleston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, the WV Veterans Council (appointed by Governor James Justice in 2022), the Kanawha County Library Board, the Highland Hospital Board of Trustees, Keep a Child in School, the ACLU of WV, WVSU Foundation Board and Steering Committee, and the Charleston Chapter of the NAACP. He spent many years volunteering as a mentor at Piedmont Elementary, Mary C. Snow Elementary and Chandler Academy, and passionately delivered meals for Meals on Wheels, Inc. of Charleston, WV.

Lew is survived by the one true love of his life, his wife of 43 years, Belinda Boaz Tyree, and a large and loving family. His six children are Anjanette ‘Anji’ Brailsford (Shawn Brailsford), Lew G. Tyree II (deceased) (Kathy Tyree), Kelli R. Batch (Charles Batch), Stephanie Tyree, Esq., (Sam Petsonk, Esq.), Matthew Tyree, Esq., (Gretchen Tyree), and Andrea Tyree (John-Paul Castells). Lew has five granddaughters, Whitney Brailsford, Amber Brailsford, Brooke Brailsford, Morgan Tyree (Austin Roberson) and Kylee Batch; four grandsons, Lew ‘Trey’ Gary Tyree III, Kayden Batch, Theo ‘Teddy’ Petsonk and Levi Petsonk, and five great-grandchildren, Josiah Moten, Ivy Moten, Ava Moten, Sophia Roberson and John Roberson.

Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, 1118 Virginia Street, East, Charleston, WV.

Memorial service in celebration of Lew’s life will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at West Virginia State University, Ferrell Hall Auditorium, 305 Barron Drive, Dunbar, WV.

Inurnment with military rights will begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 3, 2025, at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery, Dunbar, WV.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Lew’s name to the Charleston Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi or Meals on Wheels of Charleston, c/o Paul Gebhard, 5313 Pamela Circle, Cross Lanes, WV 25313.

Condolences may be sent to Lew’s family at www.barlowbonsall.com .

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home, Charleston, WV, has been entrusted with the arrangements.