Winston Rayburn Ryan

Win was born on December 12, 1920 to Orville Clifton Ryan and Josephine Rayburn Ryan in Peebles, Ohio. He spent all of his formative years in Peebles, excelling in the classroom, playing basketball, competing in track, and working for his father in the local post office. Upon graduation, he attended The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio; however, Win’s enlistment in the Army Air Corps during World War II interrupted his undergraduate studies. At the end of the war, Win finished his undergraduate degree at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Shortly after graduation, Win began working for the DuPont Company at its plant in Parkersburg, West Virginia, beginning a career that would last 35 years. It was during his stay in Parkersburg that Win met the first love of his life, Mary Sadler. The couple married in 1956 and lived in Charleston, W.Va. for the first part of their married lives, where their two daughters, Beth and Susan, were born. The family moved to Clear Lake City in 1970, when Win was transferred to the DuPont plant in LaPorte. Win retired from DuPont in 1982, and he and Mary began to enjoy retirement life together. Sadly, Mary passed away in 1992, but Win was to be blessed with the second love of his life, Henrietta Callaway. The couple married in 1995 and were able to enjoy over 15 years together, living in Clear Lake City and Georgetown, Texas during their marriage.

Win believed in living life to the fullest. Beginning at an early age, idleness was not a word in his vocabulary. He was an ideal child, as he focused on the importance of education and exemplified the value of hard work learned from his parents. He was an ideal husband, loving, supporting and caring for the needs of his wife. He was an ideal parent, teaching, nurturing and encouraging his daughters in all their endeavors. He was an ideal grandparent and great-grandparent, as he glowed in their presence and their accomplishments. Win’s life was enhanced by reading daily and traveling to continue his love of learning, creating beauty with God’s help thru his gardening, and keeping fit over the years as an avid golfer. Win was focused on his physical fitness, but focused more on his spiritual life and fitness. Win was a disciple of God’s word, and devoted his God-given talents in sharing God’s word and ministry with others throughout his life, as he studied God’s word, taught Sunday School and served on administrative committees of the church. Well done, good and faithful servant! (Matthew 25:21)

Win was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary, his parents, and his siblings, Charles Richard Ryan, Genevieve Ryan Darling, June Ryan Jackson and Eleanor Ryan Moehlman. Those who survive Win and celebrate his 90 years of earthly life are his wife, Henrietta; his daughter, Beth, and husband, Richard Brice; his daughter, Susan and husband, Robert Lambert Key, IV; his grandchildren, Richard Ryan Brice, Kenan Elizabeth Key, Robert Pierce Brice and Robert Lambert Key, V; his great-grandchild, Kylie Elizabeth; his stepsons, Scott T. Callaway, Ronald D. Callaway, Steven C. Callaway and their families; nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 24, 2011 at Forest Park East Funeral Home from 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. A service to celebrate Win’s life will be held on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, with reception to immediately follow. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. at Forest Park East Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to Clear Lake United Methodist Church-Building Fund or any charity of the donor’s choice.