Obituary of Diane Tyler

Service will be livestreamed at service time.  Please use the View Service button below if you would like to view the service remotely.

(12:00pm on Thursday, November 18, 2021)

Diane Tyler of Reston, Virginia died on November 6, 2021, at the age of 79. Diane was born to Effie Branch and William Tyler in Orange, New Jersey. Diane grew up in the city of Newark and graduated from Barringer High School in 1960.  Upon graduation, Diane joined the United States Air Force where she worked in personnel. After four years and an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Diane sought out her next challenge in the United States Navy where she was trained as an Air Traffic Controller.

In 1970 Diane began her Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) career as an air traffic controller at the Washington Center in Leesburg, Virginia. She was the first black female controller at the Leesburg facility. After many years as a controller and later a supervisor, she transferred to the FAA headquarters in Washington DC. In her role in the DC, she applied her many years of operational experience to developing procedures and systems for air traffic safety investigations, training modernization and staffing standards. In her final years she worked with teams of specialist to implement the critical Air Traffic Modernization Program.

While Diane’s experience in the military provided the initial acceptance by the exclusively male workforce, her staying power came from being smart, collegial, and ethical. Diane had a strong personality and was not shy about sharing her opinions. Because of this fact, she was a loyal and trusted friend to many. 

In retirement Diane loved to attend her great nieces and nephew events. She took great pride in supporting her family and the accomplishments of each of them.  She attended concerts, dance recitals, softball, soccer, and basketball games and was always their biggest supporter. Diane loved Las Vegas and for twenty years celebrated her birthday in the city.

Diane is survived by, her brother Dwight Branch, her nephews Darryl, Rahman and Jameel great nieces Amber, Kiley, Soul, Indigo, Mecca, Mia, Avery and Harley Branch, great nephew Soren Branch, great great niece Mariyah, her best friend, Toni Hubbard, and lifelong friends.

A public memorial service will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at Adams-Green Funeral Home in Herndon Virginia. Public viewing will be at 11am with services at noon. In lieu of flowers the family request you donate to a charity of your choice in her name.