William "Bill" Tyre, born in Sanford, FL, on May 23rd, 1940, passed away at his home on October 8th, 2025.
Bill was a proud alumnus of Seminole High School, where he distinguished himself as a four-sport athlete. His passion for football led him to Florida State University, where he pursued a degree in Education. However, after just one day of substitute teaching, Bill quickly realized that a career in education was not his calling.
In 1963, he embarked on a remarkable military career in the Air Force. He became an accomplished Air Force Pilot, flying F4 fighter planes, and proudly served his country as a veteran of the Vietnam War. In 1970, Bill transitioned from full-time service to the reserves, where he rose to Command of the 711th Special Operations Squadron, AC-130A gunship.
Upon concluding his full-time military service, Bill returned to his roots in Sanford, where he worked at Tyre Farms along side his father. Following his father's passing, Bill resumed his passion for flying with the Federal Aviation Administration in the Flight Standards Division. He and his wife, Nancy, relocated to Georgia, where they discovered a charming old home in the small town of Senoia, a place where Bill finally retired. After a challenging but successful battle with cancer, they returned to Sanford in March of 2025.
In his retirement, Bill cultivated a love for gardening, stained glass and cherished attending "Romeo" lunches with his wonderful buddies in Georgia. He and Nancy frequently attended progressive dinners or hosted happy hours with neighbors in their close-knit community. Bill loved to share entertaining tales of fishing expeditions, often recounting stories of "the one that got away." Dunkin Donuts became his favorite coffee spot and daily outing. If you stopped by the house, you would find him engrossed in old cowboy movies. Bill was undeniably cherished and respected by all who knew him and he will be greatly missed.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Frieda Tyre. He is survived by his devoted wife, Nancy Tyre; his children, Britney Tyre Reynolds (Michael, Sr.) and Chandler Tyre (Renee); his stepchildren, Tom Farrow (Sandy) and Toni Crimmins (Larry); his grandchildren, Maxx Tyre, Michael Reynolds Jr., Molly Tyre, Gordon White, Natalie White, Taylor Crimmins, Isabella Obenauer (Dakota); great-grandchild, Samuel; his sister, Shirley Maddox.
