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In Memory

Richard Eugene Ryan - Class Of 1951 VIEW PROFILE

  

RICHARD E. RYAN

Oct. 5, 1933 - Sept. 30, 2012
GRANGER - Richard Eugene "Dick" Ryan, 78, of Granger, IN, died Sunday, September 30, 2012, in the home of his son in South Bend. Dick, who was known as "The Clock Man," was born October 5, 1933, in South Bend, to the late Josephine (Winrott) and Howard Ryan, and was a lifetime area resident.

On April 4, 1959, in Osceola, IN, he married Betty Jane Haggins, and was happily married for almost 49 years until she preceded him in death January 20, 2008. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Dorothy Brant, Doris Kolezar and Jack Ryan.

He is survived by his children, Katharine M. J. Boes (Joseph) of Niles, MI, Edward A. Ryan (Lori) of St. Louis, MO, and Patrick S. Ryan (Cindy) of South Bend; grandchildren, Heather, Christina and Evan Ryan; step-grandson, Matthew Boes; and brother, Clarence Ryan (Pat) of South Bend. He is also survived by his faithful canine companion, Schroeder.

Dick was a 1951 graduate of Washington Clay High School.

He proudly served in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 to 1955, earning the rank of Airman First Class and was stationed in Korea and Japan. He served in the left rear blister as a quad-50 gunner in a B-29 Stratofortress.

For 20 years he was employed as a Certified Life Underwriter for Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. He left that business to pursue his dream of watch and clock repair, starting his own business, The Clock Shop, in Roseland, and operated it for many years until retiring to Granger. Dick was regionally known for his ability and skill for repairing all types of clocks. He passed the tests to achieve Master Clockmaker status. Many of the grandfather clocks in the local area were delivered and set up by him. He loved to travel and made sure that every year he took his entire family on a real vacation, traveling coast to coast, visiting everywhere from Niagara Falls to Estes Park, CO, to California, and also rafting down the Colorado River. He also traveled internationally to such places as England, Hawaii and Germany. He and the family's constant favorite were the Colorado Mountains. He was a loving, caring, selfless father and grandfather ("Grampy"). Dick was also known as a loyal friend, respected neighbor and poker buddy, and was always willing to lend a hand. He was involved in the communities where he lived, having served on the board of the Roseland Citizen's Association and Forest Hills Homeowners Association. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 4th, in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, with Rev. James Campbell officiating. Military honors will follow at the funeral home. Friends may call from 3 until 7 p.m. today in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 130 Red Coach Drive, Mishawaka, IN 46545; or to Pet Refuge, Inc., 2300 W. 6th St., Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Published by South Bend Tribune from Oct. 2 to Oct. 3, 2012.

11/05/2022 EJS



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