Royster Lyle, Jr., of Rockbridge Baths, retired official of the Marshall Library, and a leader in preservation efforts in the Rockbridge area and chronicler of the community's architecture and artifacts, died Saturday, May 12, 2007.

Lyle helped establish the George C. Marshall Research Library here and was a leader in its management until his retirement in 1993.

A founder of Historic Lexington Foundation in 1966, he played a key role in the preservation of the historic character of Lexington's central business district. He was instrumental in the successful community effort to preserve House Mountain as a public asset. And he was a major force behind the creation of the Chessie Nature Trail as well as the Woods Creek Park.

He was co-author with Pamela Hemmingway Simpson of the landmark book "The Architecture of Historic Lexington," published in 1977 under sponsorship of Historic Lexington Foundation. In the early 1990s, Lyle and Barbara Crawford conducted an extensive research project which led to their co-authorship of the book "Rockbridge County Artists and Artisans" in 1995.

He was also the author of a number of historical and architectural articles published in journals and periodicals.

Lyle was born in Danville, December 10, 1933, the son of the late Royster Lyle and Frances Sale Lyle. After graduating from Hampden-Sydney College in 1956, Lyle served with the army in Germany for 18 months.

He was associated with the investment firm of Francis I. duPont & Co. in Danville before coming to Lexington in 1962 to join the George C. Marshall Research Foundation which was then developing plans for establishment of the Marshall Library here.

In his 31 years of affiliation with the Marshall Foundation, Lyle held various posts including those of museum curator and associate director of the Marshall Library. As secretary of the foundation he participated in its fund-raising efforts.

While heavily involved in the operation of the library, he became active in community affairs.

He served as a member of the Rockbridge County Planning Commission and then of the Lexington Planning Commission in the 1960s. He was instrumental in the designation of Lexington's Central Business District as a historic district when such districts were first being introduced in Virginia muncipalities. He became a charter member of the Rockbridge Area Regional Planning Commission in 1966 and served as its chairman.

In addition to being a founding board member of Historic Lexington Foundation, Lyle served as president of the local chapter of the Association for the preservation of Virginia Antiquities (APVA) and as a board member of the Lexington-Rockbridge County Chamber of Commerce, of Lexington Downtown Development Association, of Shenandoah Valley Inc., and of the Virginia History Federation. He was on the advisory board of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He was a current member of the board of trustees of the Paxton House Historical Society.

He was a member of the seven-member advisory council for the New Market Battlefield Memorial when it was being developed by VMI in the 1960s. As a board member of the Virginia Travel Council, he was named to a special committee helping to coordinate programs commemorating the 200th anniversary of the American Revolution.

He served as secretary-treasurer of the Virginia Conservation Council and was a member of the executive committee of the Citizens' Committee for the Virginia Outdoor plan.

His interest in House Mountain continued through the years and he served as chairman of the committee of the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council responsible for the oversight of the House Mountain Preserve.

Mr. Lyle is survived by a son, Royster Cochran Lyle of Rockbridge Baths; a daughter, Virginia Letcher Lyle of Frankfort, Kentucky; and a sister, Frances Lyle Kelly of Alexandria.

A funeral will be held Thursday, May 17, at 11 a.m. in the Stonewall Jackson Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council.

Arrangements are being handled by the Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory, Lexington, Virginia.