William Harold Tyler III

Bill passed away peacefully in Pebble Beach, California on August 13, 2024 with Susanne, his wife of 67 years by his side. He was truly one of a kind; a natural born leader with a quiet charisma. He had a unique ability to find a positive solution in every situation which paved the way for a successful life.

Businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and Air Force veteran were just a few of his accomplishments during his 91 years of a life well lived. Bill also had an infectious passion for various activities. He was an avid collector of antique toys and memorabilia, military historian, world traveler, movie and vintage car buff, amateur artist and architect and game enthusiast; he taught his daughters to ski, play tennis and also loved to challenge his children and grandchildren to a lively game of dominoes or chess.

His parents, Lura and Harold Tyler, were early pioneers who settled in the Imperial Valley of Southern California in the 1920s. Bill’s entrepreneurial spirit began as a young boy with a little red wagon, a Christmas present that he used to sell ripe cantaloupes collected from the local packing shed and sold throughout his neighborhood.

He earned a B.A. and M.A. in Economics and was President of his Sigma Chi fraternity at U.C. Berkeley, however his most important accomplishment in college was the day he met Susanne at a local picnic.

After graduation, the newlyweds spent their honeymoon traveling to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to begin his pilot training. After his three years of service, he began a long career in both the insurance business and real estate industry.

Bill particularly enjoyed his service on many boards and philanthropic endeavors. He was former President of both the Palo Alto Jaycees and the Carmel Public Library Foundation, earned the Significant Sig distinction, was a recipient of the Carmel Rotary Community Service Award, a 2016 Distinguished Trustee of the Community Foundation of Monterey County, the 2023 Philanthropist of the Year for the Central Coast and Founder of the Tyler Center for Global Studies.

He leaves behind his wife Susanne, daughters Kathleen Wood (Charles), Marlene Ciatti (John) and Amy Tyler; eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, his brother Jack and nephews Allen and David.

Words cannot express how grateful our family is for the support from the nurses of Hospice of the Central Coast and Ileini, along with her team of devoted caregivers from Ileini’s Care of Monterey. Their kindness will always be remembered with deep gratitude.