Byron E Bryson

Byron was born October 21st, 1932 in Newton, Iowa to Allene Stewart Bryson and Harry Lee Bryson. He grew up in Iowa and begin his lifetime of discipline and hard work by helping on his grandparent’s farm. As a boy and young man, he developed a love of exercise and sports which he carried on throughout his life. He excelled in playing tennis and was very committed to staying fit as going to the gym would be a lifetime activity. After graduating high school, he went to Iowa University briefly but decided to join the Air Force in 1954. Early in his Air Force career, he honed his tennis skills such that he won numerous military tennis tournaments. Byron, who believed in hard work and doing it well, went on to work for the National Guard at Camp Mabry for 20 years after retiring from the Air Force, before his 'final' retirement in 1999.

On a “blind date” meeting, he met the love of his life Susan, who served in the Air Force as a WAF, when both were stationed in Fort Worth. In less than three months, they were married on June 16th, 1957. Susan left the Air Force to be a full-time military wife as well as mother. In 1959, 1962 and in 1964 their children William, Kathy, and James were born. During his Air Force career, Byron would alternate between stateside and overseas assignments. He served alone overseas on TDY in Goosebay, Labrador; South Korea, and Thailand. Susan and the children joined him on his assignments in Spain, Okinawa and Athens, Greece. While stationed in Greece, Byron befriended a young airmen named Eden Reyes who would become a lifetime friend of him and the family. Byron served in the Air Force for 26 years and retired at Bergstrom, AFB in Austin in 1978. Throughout his military career he and his family faithfully attended chapel services. They continued to attend chapel services after his retirement at Bergstrom until it closed in 1993. They then joined Great Hills Baptist Church and have been faithful members up to the present.

From 1990 to 2005, six grandchildren were born – three to daughter Kathy and three to son James. Soon all the adults called “Dad” Bryson “Papa” which was his name used by his grandchildren. Papa was actively involved and became a favorite of all his grandchildren (though “Mema” was none too shabby in showering them with gifts and love and support). “Papa” was a good listener and was always ready to ask questions of the grandchildren to share their interest. He attended many of their sport and school activities from elementary school to college. Byron and Susan were then blessed with three great-grandchildren over the last couple of years: James-Daniel born to Sierra, Wren born to Lauren and a baby girl is on the way for Sierra.

Byron was a faithful Christian man who lived out his trust in Jesus Christ as a faithful servant in his dedication to be weekly at church, to befriend people he met, to excel at whatever he put his hand to at work or exercise/sports and most importantly through his steadfastness as husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was there in love and support for his wife for 65 years, his three children for over 62 years and for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren over the last 31+ years of his life. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife Susan, his fun-loving and cherished sister Fredda Wright, and his ever-encouraging and kind brother Tommy Bryson.

Though he was a quiet man, his loving example will continue to shine on through his children Bill (Karen) Bryson, Kathy (Kent) Broddrick, and James (Sandra) Bryson, his grandchildren Lauren (Jonathon) Stewart, Sierra (Dan) Johnson, Luke Broddrick (Alyssa), Valerie (Phillip) Rychlik, Faith Broddrick, and Victoria “Tori” Bryson and his great-grandchildren, James Johnson (Sierra and Dan), Wren Stewart (Lauren and Jonathon), and baby girl, Isabella Johnson (Sierra and Dan), arriving in March.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to a charity of your choice.