Col. Richard Ryan
Colonel Richard B. Ryan, Jr., United States Army Ret., 85, of Strasburg, VA,
Passed away Friday, April 26, 2024, at Blue Ridge Hospice Inpatient Care Center, Winchester, VA.
Mr. Ryan was born in St. Paul, MN on October 7, 1938, the son of the late Richard Bryan and Mary Odell Ryan, Sr. Richard graduated St. Thomas Military Academy, St Paul, MN, in 1956 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1958, completing Infantry Basic Training and subsequently serving at Ft Carson, CO. He completed Officers Candidate School at Fort Benning, GA in 1959, earning a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Infantry. As a young Infantry officer, Richard served in several important overseas assignments, including in Seoul, Korea with the Korean Military Advisory Group, in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand as an advisor to the Royal Thai Army, and in Pleiku, Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division where he was awarded the Bronze Star with V Device for heroism in ground combat.
Richard continued to serve his country with distinction in the Ordnance Corps, commanding the 724th Maintenance Battalion in Savannah, GA, and the 3rd Armored Division Support Command in Frankfurt, Germany. He culminated his career as the Deputy Commander of the US Army Logistics Center at Fort Lee, VA. He held degrees from the University of Nebraska in Omaha, NE, George Washington University, in Washington, DC, and the National Defense University’s Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. Richard retired from the Army in 1988 as a Colonel. For his faithful and distinguished 30 years of service to the country, he was awarded the Legion of Merit. After retirement, Richard continued to serve his community and county as the President of the Strasburg Library and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Shenandoah Library System. He also held several officer positions and was the Zone 4 Governor for the Ruritan.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Shiela Ryan.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, LauraMary Ryan; their children Richard (Se’a), Patrick, Thomas (Danya), Meghan, as well as Kimberly and Emma; his grandchildren Kelsey, Kaleigh, Jack, Elizabeth, Sydney, Kate, and Tyler; his great grandson, Everett; He is survived by his sister, Michael Dodge (Dr Gordon); several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and nephews. Adored and respected, Richard will be remembered and greatly missed by his family and friends.
The family will receive friends at Stover Funeral Home & Crematory on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7 p.m. Services and burial for Mr. Ryan will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date to be announced.
You may sign the guestbook and submit your condolences to the family online at www.stoverfuneralhome.com.
Stover Funeral Home and Crematory, Strasburg, VA is serving the family of Mr. Richard B. Ryan, Jr.
