John Marion Bryant

John Marion Bryant passed away peacefully on April 7, 2019, seven months short of his 97th Birthday. He was born in Marlow, OK, on November 30, 1922 but moved with his parents and siblings to San Antonio TX at the age of 8. He attended Harlendale High School where he met his sweetheart and life partner, Ruth Elizabeth Byrom. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the age of 19 and was flying B 26 bombers over France and Belgium at the age of 21. Truly a member of “The Greatest Generation”, he flew 35 bombing missions from a base in England and was severely wounded on his 35th mission. He was the recipient of several medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star, and the Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters. He and Ruth were married in 1944 shortly after he was released from the hospital. JM received his Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry under the GI Bill and worked as an environmental health scientist his entire career. JM and Ruth settled on the outskirts of San Antonio on Bandera Road in 1953 where they raised their three boys, John Thomas, Frederick Cordus and Craig Thornton. JM was active in his community, having served on the Northside Independent School Board for six years and spearheading the construction of The Northwest Pony/Colt Baseball Field in Leon Valley in 1960. The baseball field still stands today. He was active in the Church of Christ, leading the singing for many years. His most fun thing to do was to sing in Barber Shop Quartets. He and Ruth attended several national Barber Shop Conventions in the 1980s. After all of the boys graduated from John Marshall High School, he and Ruth moved to Cincinnati, OH, where he was a leading scientist with the newly formed, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. They returned to Dripping Springs, TX, in 1977, where they lived a full and friend-filled life on Nutty Brown Road, until the love of his life passed away in 2001. His last years were spent in Austin and more recently in Boerne, TX, at the Cibolo House at Menger Springs. His years in Boerne were faithfully supported by his primary care givers, son John and wife Jackie Bryant. His last thoughts and prayers were to be reunited in heaven with Ruth. Preceded in death were his mother Ruby Bell (Maddox) Bryant and father Cordis Clyde Bryant, and sister Lorene and George Woods of Alice, TX, and sister-in-law Mildred Bryant. JM is survived by his baby sister Peggy Nel (Bryant) McMurray of San Antonio, brother Charles and Rosemary of Shreveport, LA, and brother Rene and Pat of San Antonio, TX. He is also survived by his children, John and Jackie Bryant of Boerne, TX, Fred and Janis Bryant of Durango CO, Craig and Jane Bryant of Austin, TX, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Grandchildren include, oldest to youngest, Travis (and Kim) Bryant, Lisa (and Tom) Kopff, Clint (and Donna) Bryant, Trent (and Holly) Bryant, Zac (and Sarah) Bryant, Coy (and Niki) Bryant, Annie Bryant, and Jef Bryant. Memorial Services will begin at 2:00 pm on June 14, 2019 at the First Baptist Church, 631 S. School St., Boerne, TX 78006, (830) 816-6141. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations and gifts be directed to Alamo Hospice, 1595 S. Main St., STE 101, Boerne, TX 78006, (830) 816-5024.