Lyndel Lee Erwin

Lyndel Erwin, beloved husband, father, Pop, uncle and friend, passed on to be with his Savior on November 10, 2023.  He was preceded in death by his parents D.L. Erwin and Vergie Evans Erwin and his cherished sister, Cherie Erwin Bradford.

Born in 1940 and raised on a farm in Blue Springs, Arkansas, Lyndel learned hard work, the importance of education, and how to serve others.  Family was important to Lyndel and, most of all, his relationship with God.  The son of an educator, Lyndel started school at age four and excelled in his studies, graduating at sixteen years old.   Growing up in a musical family, Lyndel played saxophone in the high school band.

After graduation, Lyndel attended the University of Arkansas Monticello, where he met and fell in love with Annette Taylor.  They were married on July 28, 1962 and enjoyed sixty-one happy years of matrimony. 

Upon graduation, Lyndel began a successful career at the United States Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division where he was a tireless civil servant helping workers throughout the Southeast, including offices in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Washington D.C.  He retired as the District Director for the Gulf Coast District in 1998 and embarked upon his second career, a labor consultant for Lehr, Middlebrooks, Vreeland & Thompson until he ultimately retired in July of this year.  Throughout his professional career, Lyndel was admired for his encyclopedic knowledge of labor laws, his judgement, his wisdom, and kindness.

Lyndel was the embodiment of a Southern Gentleman, treating everyone he met with kindness, understanding, and courtesy.  He touched the lives of many through his work, his devotion to his family, and his service through his church and through the American Red Cross.   He always offered a friendly smile, a laugh, and a handshake or a gentle hug.  Lyndel was warm, encouraging and funny.

Lyndel’s most outstanding trait was his faithfulness. He had faith in his own abilities, and others could fully rely on him. He was trusting of others as well. Most importantly, he trusted God. An unshakable foundation, his faith was free of doubt and free of judgement. He trusted God's designs for him and others. His optimism was contagious - and yet another reason it was so pleasant to be around him.  He accepted Jesus at twelve years old and spent his life being led by the Holy Spirit.  He spent the last thirty years as an active member of Hunter Street Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and in countless other ministries ranging from the finance committee to driving a bus.

Lyndel enriched the lives of everyone he met. He is survived by: his loving wife of sixty-one years, Annette Taylor Erwin, two grateful sons, Kevin (Julie) and Tim (Jenny); seven adoring grandchildren, Elijah, Joshua, Sean Patrick, and Chase Erwin, and Jackson, Hayes, and Anna Lane Elmore; a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; and countless friends.
 
Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 on Tuesday, November 14th, at Hunter Street Baptist Church in Hoover, Alabama with a celebration of Lyndel's life to follow at 11: 00. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in Lyndel’s name to Big Oak Ranch (250 Jake Mintz Road, Gadsden, Alabama 35905, www.BigOak.org).