Thomas Wayne Ryan

Tom was born January 6, 1944, in Liberal, Kansas, to Thomas H. Ryan and Dortha Ione Ryan. At the time of Tom’s birth, his father was serving as a gunner with the United States Army Air Corps in India during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Dodge City, Kansas, where Tom’s sister, Terrie, was born.

In the early 1950s, the Ryan family moved to Aurora, Colorado, where Tom spent the remainder of his childhood and graduated from Aurora High School. His love of travel and the outdoors began at an early age. The family frequently hiked and fished throughout the Rocky Mountains and traveled extensively, visiting states throughout the South and Southwest and along the California coast.

Tom graduated from Colorado State University in 1966 and soon afterward began a long and distinguished association with the United States Air Force. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, his first assignment took him to Okinawa, Japan. In 1968, following North Korea’s capture of the USS Pueblo, Tom was stationed in South Korea.

His military career subsequently took him to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington. It was while stationed at McChord that Tom met Camellia “Cam” Scott of Asheville, North Carolina. They married and shared 55 years together.

Tom’s Air Force career continued with an assignment to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, followed by a tour of duty at Nakhon Phanom, Thailand. After completing his service in Thailand, Tom was assigned to San Antonio, Texas, for his final active-duty assignment.

After leaving active duty, Tom continued serving his country in the United States Air Force Reserve while beginning a career with General Dynamics.

His work would take him around the world and occasionally place him in the midst of history. In 1979, Tom was in Tehran, Iran, on business when Iranian students seized the United States Embassy. With the assistance of Iranian friends, Tom and his team were able to make their way safely out of Iran.

Tom spent the majority of his time with the General Dynamics team in Fort Worth, Texas, working on the F-16 Fighting Falcon program. He continued his career as General Dynamics became part of Lockheed Martin. His final overseas assignment took him once again to South Korea, this time to Jinju, where he acted as the Chief Engineer on the T-50 advanced trainer aircraft program for the Republic of Korea Air Force.

Throughout his civilian career, Tom continued serving in the United States Air Force Reserve, ultimately retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His years of military and aerospace service reflected a lifelong commitment to his country and to the field of aviation.

In 1982, Tom and Cam welcomed their son, Michael Scott Ryan. Travel remained an important part of family life, and whenever possible, they experienced new places together. When Tom’s work kept him away, Cam and Michael continued the family tradition of traveling and exploring. During Tom’s later assignment in South Korea, Tom and Cam also traveled throughout Asia, including China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

In retirement Tom enjoyed traveling and playing golf. His travels took him around the world, but in later years, Tom and Cam left their longtime Fort Worth home and returned to Colorado, settling in Colorado Springs, where Tom was able to receive exceptional medical care.

Most importantly, the move brought him precious time with his family. Tom especially enjoyed being close to his two grandsons, Liam and Ledger, and, true to his sense of humor, he took particular pleasure in giving his favorite daughter-in-law, DeShaun, a hard time.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas H. Ryan and Dortha Ione Ryan.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years, Camellia “Cam” Ryan; his son, Michael Scott Ryan; his daughter-in-law, DeShaun Ryan; his grandsons, Liam and Ledger; his sister, Terrie Ryan; and Terrie’s children, Lynette, Gregg, and Brian, along with extended family, friends, colleagues, and fellow servicemen who were a part of his remarkable life.

Tom leaves behind a lifetime of memories spanning military service, a distinguished career in aerospace, adventures around the world, and, above all, devotion to his family.

Tom’s was a life of service, adventure, accomplishment, and love of family. From the Rocky Mountains of his childhood to military posts and aerospace projects around the world, his life carried him on an extraordinary journey before ultimately bringing him home to Colorado.

His family will remember not only the places he went and the things he accomplished, but the husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend he was along the way. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.