Herman Doyle

Rural Retreat, Va. 

Herman Doyle, age 79, left this world to be with his Lord, Wednesday, January 15, 2025 surrounded by his family at Wythe County Community Hospital in Wytheville, Va.

Herman was an extremely gifted and talented baseball pitcher and during his junior year in high school, he was drafted to play for Cleveland Indians in 1964. Herman also played for the semi-pro Saltville Alkalies with his friend and catcher, Bubby Crowder. His most memorable game was playing to a packed Marion Stadium in 1964 against the Tennessee High Vikings. It was this game that he and the team snapped Tennessee’s 6 game winning streak by pitching a complete game shutout, winning 2-0 with 13 strike outs! It was this very game that a gallery of 9 major league scouts was on hand to see Herman pitch. Needless to say, all 9 of the scouts were later in his mom’s kitchen eating pie and talking baseball! Herman loved baseball, his family—especially the ones who called him Papaw Hermie. He loved his son and all of his family and friends. Speaking of friends, Herman had many and made most of them while working with Lowes. He was the most requested Homestead Manager to figure the pricing on a house build. It was said that he was always within $500 on the complete build out. Herman knew his stuff.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Garland and Rose Doyle; sister, Barbara Doyle; brothers, William and Robert Doyle; and the mother of his son, Margaret Harris.

Herman is survived by his son, Stan Doyle (Karen); sister, Virginia Doyle; brother, Charles Doyle, all of Rural Retreat, Va.; three grandchildren, Madison Pennington (Dalton) of Marion, Va., Donovan Bailey Doyle (Cheyenne) Hillsville, Va., Dalton Kegley (Tatum) of Temple, Ga.; three great grandchildren, Caroline, Roman and Brandon, all of Marion, Va.; a very special cousin, Karen Widener Reedy of Rural Retreat, Va.; several nieces and nephews; and, his friend Bill Catron of Atkins, Va. 

Family will receive friends Tuesday, January 21, 2025 from 6 until 7 p.m. at Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Chapel, 237 East Main Street, Marion Va. Funeral services will begin at 7 p.m. with Blake Frazier officiating. A graveside service will be private. 

To share memories of Herman Doyle, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Herman has been entrusted to Fraziers’ Seaver-Brown Funeral Service, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354.