George Ryan
1918 - 2011
George Washington Ryan, II, age 93, died September 30, 2011, at home with his loving family by his side. Visitation at Johnson Funeral Home will be Sunday, October 2, 2011 from 3 PM to 8 PM with a rosary at 6 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Margaret's Catholic Church on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 1 PM. Father Aubrey Guilbeau will be officiating. Interment following the Mass will be at Highland Memory Gardens.
Pallbearers will be Todd, Allen, Vernon, Tyler and Hayden Theriot; Joshua and Barton Bernard; Mark Cholley and Joaquin Torrans. Honorary pallbearers will be Charles Richard, Frank ``Mike'' Terranova, Charles Leveque, Allen Fruge, James Dufrene, Crowell Eddy and Billy Quick, all members of the Landry Memorial Class of 1939.
George was a great grandson of the father of Lake Charles, Jacob Ryan. He was born on September 9, 1918 in Lake Charles to Henry Preston Ryan I and Dottie Delise Lilly. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Henry Preston II, Rene, Dennis Kelly, and sisters Lillie Mae, Margarite Delise (infant) and Doris Marie (infant).
George attended Saint Charles Academy and graduated in 1939 from Landry Memorial High Sch9ool where he excelled in high school football and was given the nickname "Jug". He was a Boy Scout and was active in the Sea Scouts.
He volunteered for service in the Army of the United States prior to WWII and his tour of duty included Hawaii and Saipan. In August, 1945, he received an honorable discharge.
On September 9, 1945, George married his longtime sweetheart, Gloria Catherine Rhodes. In 1947, he began his career as a machinist at Southern Alkali, later known as Columbia Southern, finally known as PPG Industries, where he retired in 1981.
A cradle Catholic, he prayed the Rosary daily and held true to the teachings of the church. His devotion and strong faith is his legacy.
Survivors are his wife, Gloria; daughters, Irene Gail Ryan Theriot (Vernon), Sheila Ann Ryan Bernard (Barton), and Kate Delise Ryan Cholley (Mark); grandchildren, Dr. M. Todd Theriot (Missy), W. Allen Theriot (Anissa), Paula Gail Theriot, Jennifer Bernard Torrans (Joaquin), Joshua Ryan Bernard (Crystal), and Kristen Leigh Cholley; great grandchildren, Tyler Theriot, Alexis Theriot, Hayden Theriot, Hannah Theriot, Ashlyn Theriot, Allison Theriot, Natalie Theriot, Grace Ann Theriot, and Miranda Jane Torrans.
The Ryan family would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr. Carolyn Hutchinson and Odyssey Hospice. We are grateful for their tender loving care.