Jack William Lyttle, born March 14, 1935, at home in Cambridge, Ohio, passed away peacefully May 5, 2026, surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by parents Alfred Lyttle and Pauline (Nowell) Lyttle, brother Kay Lyttle, and son Eric Lyttle. He is survived by his wife Robilyn (Gibson) Lyttle, son Jeffrey (Cathy) Lyttle, and daughter in-law Cindy Lyttle. He was ornery Papaw to grandchildren Jennie (Jared) Riley, Jessica Lyttle, Jack (Tori) Lyttle, Erika (Tom) McBride, and Alex Balle (Jacob), plus 10 great grandchildren, Maia, Cameron, Kennedy, Phoenix, TJ, Tate, Hayleigh, Everleigh, Lennon, and Emerson. He is also survived by lifelong friends Bob and Linda Jennings. He and Bob served as best man in each other’s wedding. The weddings were just two weeks apart.

He was a proud veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces and took advantage of his service to the country, using the GI Bill to become the first member of his family to attend college. While a student at Muskingum College he met fellow education major Robilyn Gibson. He liked to say their first few dates involved him “carrying Robbie’s books across campus” but, following graduation, the two would become one on August 15, 1959, and enjoyed 66 years of married life together. Following the birth of their two sons he earned a master’s degree from The Ohio State University, again thanks to the GI Bill. 

Jack had a more than 40-year career with Columbus City Schools, beginning as a teacher for nine years, before transitioning to administration. He ended his career as the head of purchasing for the district. Following retirement, he was lured back to the classroom, serving as a principal’s liaison at three Columbus elementary schools.

He was a lifelong learner and an avid reader of scores of books involving World War II. He took advantage of classes and seminars and chronicled his travels to Nevada and California on horseback with his sons in search of wild horses; and an unforgettable journey to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada with experts from the Columbus Zoo in search of polar bears. He took his family on multiple trips to Elephant Lake in Ontario, Canada where the food was magnificent and the fish (and mosquitos) were always biting, as well as many trips to both Traverse City, Michigan and Lake Erie.

He will be remembered for his kindness and ready smile, his love of family, his many dogs, large and small, and a dozen or so cats, his quiet contentment with a beautiful day on his backyard deck, and his readiness to do anything his “Princess” wanted to do.

Respecting his wishes, there will be no public services. Those wishing to honor his life are asked to consider a donation in his name to Ohio Hospice of Central Ohio, Honor Flight Columbus, or the Robbie and Jack Lyttle Fund for Teachers at the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio.