Herbert Horatio Tyler Jr.

Herbert Horatio Tyler was born on June 23, 1924 in Woodbridge NJ. He was the son of Herbert Horatio Tyler, Sr. and Irene Booker Tyler. He is the brother of Frances Tyler and the late John and William Tyler. He received his education in New Jersey public schools. He served in the United States Army as a radio technician during WWII. After being discharged, Herbert returned to NJ for a brief period. He later moved to NY where he attended music school, wanting to be another Dizzy Gillespie. Public opinion weighed heavily in his decision to make other choices. Some of his jobs, in no particular order, included Port Authority police officer, JFK security officer, and one getting his 15 minutes of stardom on television's Candid Camera while employed as a gas station attendant.

One of Herbert's greatest accomplishments came from receiving his mortuary science degree and owning and operating his own establishment, "Tyler Funeral Home" in St. Albans, NY. He humbly served his community in this business for 30 years before retiring.

Herbie married his wife Helen in Brooklyn, NY in 1950. From this union they were blessed with four children whom he loved dearly. He was determined to raise his children as he was raised: as God-fearing individuals, even though a switch from the backyard hedges in the family's new home in Queens became an additionally STRONG incentive. He and his family attended St. Albans Congregational Church where he was a trustee, a deacon, and served on the finance board. Once moving to Bel Air, Maryland, his church family here at Clark's United Methodist grew to be as inspiring as his previous church family. He was a member of the Men's Choir, finance committee, transportation committee, and provided an abundance of life's experience.

For 60 years Herbert was proud to call Helen and their children the finest things that ever happened to him. He provided them with words of wisdom and had a never-ending wealth of knowledge.

They were encouraged to have faithful spirits, individual minds and opinions of their own. All of his children graduated successfully from college. Stephen became a research director, Beverly became a physician, Kim became an editor, and Jackie decided to carry on their father's business as a funeral director.

Herbert's life was also one of comedy. He could make ANYONE laugh—at ANY time—ANYWHERE. He loved his automobiles- especially his Cadillac, until one of his granddaughters, as a toddler, told him it was the old people's car. He loved fussing with brothers in church. He loved giving Rev. Groover a special signal advising when the Yankees were about to "Play Ball!" He enjoyed dinners and luncheons prepared by our kitchen family, probably because they always gave him an extra piece of his favorite food, "CHICKEN." Family always knew when he annoyed Mommy because she would always say "Oh Herbie, hush." Brother Herbert was an excellent driver and could find places here in town that others didn't know existed. He was his own GPS and would never admit to being lost, "only sightseeing," as long as he had a full tank of gasoline.

Most of all, he loved and praised our Lord, and the Lord blessed him with a wonderful life. We will all miss him, but we are so pleased to know that we will see him again in Heaven and know that he was greeted with "Well done, my faithful servant."

He would like to say a final farewell to his family born by blood, extended through relationships and his church families, and a tip of his cap to his beloved Yankees and Redskins.


Submitted by,
The Family