Merton Dale Lyon

Our Family sadly shares the sudden loss of our patriarch, Merton Dale Lyon on September 27, 2022 at the age of 93.

Dale was born in Madera, CA. on August 23, 1929 to Merton and Donna Lyon. He graduated from Ceres Grammar School, attended Ceres Union High School, Modesto Junior College, Seattle University and graduated from the University of Santa Clara in 1953 with a degree in Commerce.

A veteran of the US Army and US Army Active Reserves, he was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Staff Sergeant. While stationed in Seattle, he met and married Donna Marie Berens (deceased), daughter of Dr. S.N. and Kathryn Berens. They were married on December 30,1950 and soon relocated to California.

Dale was on the general accounting staff of the Pacific Telephone Company. He later owned and operated grocery stores in Modesto, CA. In 1963 he joined the Bank of California and quickly rose to the position of Vice President and Controller. He held similar positions in banking systems in Florida and Arizona. Upon returning to California in 1974, he worked as the Executive Vice President and Director of Imperial Bank in Los Angeles, and later served as Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Beverly Hills. He moved to Sun City Lincoln Hills in 2003 and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement years.

He was a talented tennis player in college and at 45, developed a love of daily walking, often up to 5 miles a day, every day! He was often seen walking all over his beloved Lincoln Hills community and to church every Sunday until his passing. He was an ardent supporter of veterans organizations, several museums and was politically active in the national and state Republican party. He loved traveling internationally and was proud of visiting every state except Alaska and regularly visiting his family in Florida and Texas. He spent years researching his genealogy and was able to trace his ancestors back to Thomas of Rye and Francis Johnson who lived in the 1600's.

He will be forever remembered by his three children and their families: Theresa (Jim) Mann and their children Katy McKnight and Michael Mann of Novato; Stephen (Paula) Lyon and their daughter Jessica (Daniel) Hough and their children Lillian and Hollyn Hough of St. Augustine, Florida; and Susan (George) Akmon of Plano, TX and their daughter Sarah (Zach) Davies of Aledo, TX.

Dale was predeceased by his sister Joyce (Bob) Martin, and will be fondly remembered by their children and their Sacramento area families: Machelle Martin and son Jonathan (Maria) Hayes and daughter Sharon (Jonathon) Slama; Maleah Novak and daughters Nicole (Horacio) Quintanilla, Rachel Novak and Jenna (Osmand) Soule; and Mark (deceased) and Stacey Martin their daughter; Jymme (Frank) Dominguez, son Catlin (Monique) Martin and son Reid Martin of Adel Oregon. He will also be missed by the families of Julie Coyne, Rob Tourtelot and Adrienne Tourtelot of Southern California, whom he considered family.

Dale, an avid walker to the end met his "walking partner" Joanne Justen of Lincoln in 2003, shortly after retiring to Lincoln. Over the last 18 years, they have been constant companions and enjoyed daily dinners and "walking" on vacations both in the US and abroad. He felt blessed to have had a wonderful marriage to Donna for 23 years beginning in his 20's and to have found Joanne in his last 18 years.