William Gray Bryant

William Gray Bryant Jr., 76, of Austin, passed away on the 5th of May 2011, after meeting the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on January 16, 1935, in Durham, North Carolina, the son of William Gray Bryant and Ruth Adams Bryant. His childhood was spent in Durham, Roxboro, and Henderson, North Carolina, where he graduated from Henderson High School in 1953. Following his graduation from Duke University in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, he was accepted to Naval Officers Training School in Newport, Rhode Island and served in the Navy for 4 ½ years. He joined the Pacific Telephone Company in Palo Alto, California in 1962, where he held commercial manager positions in the San Francisco area and Monterrey. He then worked for Southwestern Bell in commercial marketing and public affairs assignments from 1966-1983. After the divestiture of the Bell System, he joined AT&T in the government relations organization in Washington DC from 1985-1990 when he returned to Austin and retired in 1996 as a corporate vice president. He had a strong work ethic and gave to his community as well. He served on the board of Chase Bank, was a Director Emeritus of the Austin Symphony Board and a former King Brio of Knights of the Symphony. He also served in the past with the Alexander Graham Bell Foundation, AARO, and the Capitol Area Council of Boy Scouts among others. He was a member of the Headliners and Northwest Hills United Methodist Church. Gray and Patricia, his wife of 53 years, met while working at Yellowstone National Park during their summer college vacations. The Yellowstone and Jackson Hole area with the Grand Tetons always held a special place in his heart, and he was happy to spend much of his retirement there enjoying hikes, the wildlife, and magnificent scenery with family and friends. Gray is survived by his wife Patricia; son, Bill Bryant and wife Judith; son, Steve Bryant and Luisa Londoño and her children, Mariana and Sebastian; and daughter Gail Blanco and Jose Blanco; grandchildren Rebecca, Jane, Will and John Bryant, and Miguel and Thomas Blanco. He is also survived by his sister, Anne Bishop Brown, Durham, NC; brother-in-law, Charles Trimble and wife Kateri, from Dripping Springs, TX; and many other extended family members. For those desiring, donations may be made to the Austin Symphony Orchestra, the Alzheimer’s Association, Odyssey Hospice, Northwest Hills United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon, on Monday the 9th day of May 2011, at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church, 7050 Village Center Drive, Austin, Texas

Condolences may be made at www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com