Edward T. Ryan

Born May 5, 1920 to Thomas E. and Melinda J. Ryan in Boston, MA. He was the sixth child of thirteen and grew up in Charlestown, MA. He was a veteran of WW II serving in the Navy as a member of the “SeaBees”, before being chosen to train as an undersea salvage diver. After discharge in 1945, he was employed at the Ford Motor Company automotive assembly plant in Somerville, MA. He started on the assembly line and advanced from foreman to general foreman before being transferred to Mahwah, NJ as a department superintendent. He remained at the NJ location until retirement in 1976.

While living in NJ with his wife, Frances and children, Elaine, Edward and Diane, he was very involved with car repairs and woodworking. This man could fix any car or truck and crafted countless woodworking projects. He was also a quartermaster for the Hawthorne Muchachos and Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps.

Upon retirement to Florida in ’76, he continued to be active in his hobbies and also found a new one: gardening. Ed became a Master Gardener producing gorgeous vegetable gardens. He soon found another interest and became a member of the Elks. He helped create the first lodge in Deltona and then moved onto the Sanford and DeLand lodges. He held many positions, but his greatest achievement was as Chaplain and Exalted Ruler of the DeLand lodge. One of his greatest joys was instructing others to perform the Elks’ various ceremonial rites.

He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Joan, and loving daughters, Elaine T. Rowin and her husband, John of Oakland, NJ and Diane M. Lopenzo and her husband, Thomas of Deltona, FL. Ed will be dearly missed by his six grandchildren, Edward A. Ryan of Poughkeepsie, NY, Steven P. Ryan and his wife, Heather of Edgewater, FL, Bryan C. Rowin and his wife, Stephanie of Oakland, NJ, Erin A. Rowin, Esq. and her husband, Ralph Yezza of Basking Ridge, NJ and Christina D. Lopenzo and Dominic T. Lopenzo, both of Deltona, FL. His future presence, guidance and love will be lost to his three great-grandchildren Michael A. Ryan of New York, Connor P. Rowin and Cooper N. Rowin both of Oakland, NJ. Sadly, Ed will never get to hold his newest great grandchild, who will be born in November.

Ed was pre-deceased in 2005 by his beloved wife of 61 years, Frances T. Ryan and by his dear son, Edward F. Ryan in January of 2013.

Viewing services will be on Saturday, May 25th from 9:30 am to 11:30 am at Deltona Memorial Funeral Home, 1295 Saxon Blvd in Orange City, FL. Services will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church, 1310 Maximillian St in Deltona, FL following the viewing. Burial will be at Deltona Memorial Gardens in Orange City, FL following the service.