Walter Perry Bryan Jr.

Walter Perry Bryan, Jr., born August 16, 1913, quietly passed away early the morning of October 15, 2013, at the age of 100, with his wife of 75 years and other family members at his bedside in Edmond, Oklahoma. Walter was a minister of the gospel for over 73 years, ministering in numerous congregations of churches of Christ in Oklahoma and Vermont. He was active in missions in Togo and Ghana, West Africa; Australia; and Alaska, traveling extensively to those mission areas. He and his wife Ruth were recently honored by Oklahoma Christian University, Edmond, Oklahoma, and Faulkner University, Montgomery, Alabama, for their 75 years of marriage. They were also recently presented the Christian Service Award by Oklahoma Christian University for their 78 years of ministering to churches of Christ, unending passion for mission work, faithful church leadership, and exemplary lives as parents of three sons, five grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Walter worked tirelessly from the inception of the idea to the completion of establishing Oklahoma Christian University and served on numerous boards and committees for the university. He particularly enjoyed his work with Christian youth camps. He also loved music, including the classics and a capella vocal music, as well as photography, astronomy, and fishing. He was preceded in death by his father and mother Walter Perry Bryan, Sr. and Mamie Nicholas Bryan, brother Raymond M. Bryan, and daughter-in-law Johanne Huntington Bryan. He is survived by sons Philip C. Bryan, M.D. and wife Jeri of Edmond, Oklahoma; Stephen R. Bryan and wife Judy of Bluejacket, Oklahoma; and Mark A. Bryan, of Bailey, Colorado; grandchildren Sheri Dodd, Edmond, Oklahoma; Philip C. Bryan, Jr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Greg A. Bryan and wife Rebecca, Bentonville, Arkansas; Jason A. Bryan and wife Rachel, Fort Scott, Kansas; Jennifer J. Bryan, Ph.D., Edmond, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren Jessica Lamb, Jeremy Dodd, Blake Bryan, Bryce Bryan, Morgan Bryan, Christian Bryan, John Bryan, Easton Bryan, and Ellis Bryan; brothers J. Alvin Bryan, Ed.D., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, George A. Bryan, Ph.D., and wife Verna, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and other relatives and friends. Services are under the direction of Baggerley Funeral Home, Edmond, Oklahoma, and will be held at Wilshire church of Christ, 400 E. Wilshire Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at 1 P.M., Friday, October 18, 2013. Visitation will be from 6-8 P.M., Thursday, October, 17, 2013, at Baggerley Funeral Home, 930 South Broadway Edmond, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the African Mission Fund, 400 E. Wilshire Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73105, or to the Oklahoma Christian University New Student Bible Major Scholarship, c/o Dr. Alan Martin, Box 11000, Oklahoma City, OK 73136.