Joseph H. Ryan, Jr., passed away peacefully on April 15, 2013, due to complications from a broken hip. Joe was born in Santa Ana, CA on October 22, 1921 to Joseph and Hazel Ryan. He attended schools in Santa Ana, graduating in 1940 from Santa Ana High School. The day after his 18th birthday, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served during WWII on the destroyer, the USS Fred T. Berry. In 1942 he married Wilma DuFrain, and after living in San Francisco while serving in the Navy, he and Wilma relocated to Garden Grove, Wilma’s home town. Joe worked for a number of years at the Garden Grove Post Office prior to joining the Garden Grove Fire Department as a volunteer fireman. After working as a firefighter, Joe became the Fire Inspector for the city of Garden Grove. Joe was also responsible for the Junior Fire Program for a number of years and awarded the Junior Fire Badge to every 5th grader in Garden Grove, including his own son and daughter. After his retirement from the fire department, Joe became active in the El Bekal Shrine Organization, serving as Recorder.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife Wilma in 1998 and his son Jim in 2003. In 2001, Joe married Alice Terrell Hart. He is survived by his wife Alice, his daughter Nancy Priddy and her husband Jerry, granddaughter Jamie Stone and her husband Rob, daughter-in-law Judi Ryan, grandson Joe Ryan and his wife Sandy, and his two great-granddaughters, McKenzie and Ashley Ryan. Joe is also survived by Alice’s children, Marsha, Lynne and Mark and their families.
Please join us at Dimond & Shannon Mortuary, 10630 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove, on Monday, April 22, anytime from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm. As we gather together, we will remember Joe’s amazing life and how he was a friend to everyone he met. At 6 pm that evening, Joe will be honored for his service in the U.S. Navy. We look forward to seeing you at any time during the evening’s celebration.
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