We are sad to announce the death of Ed Ryan, who peacefully passed away on Wednesday, October 14, his beloved wife by his side. He was born and raised in New Orleans, graduating from Jesuit High School in 1949. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and proudly served his country for the next four years. While stationed at McChord Air Force Base, he attended a dance for service men, where he met his future bride for the next seventy-four years Merdith Patterson, although friends in Louisiana know her better as Pat. Their union produced six children, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. For over thirty years, he was the owner and operator of Ryan’s Hearing Aid Center, providing his customers with honest, reliable, and cheerful service. A devout Catholic, he was active in the Knights of Columbus. After retirement, Ed and Pat traveled the country in their RV along with their faithful dog Casey and had many wonderful adventures, which they were eager to share with friends and family and complete strangers. Ed kept active most of his life, enjoying slow-pitch softball, the Senior Olympics, and most of all golf, hitting the links into his nineties. Ed was preceded in death by his parents Ed and Anna Murphy Ryan; his infant son Patrick; his brothers Donald and the Reverend Kenneth Ryan; his nephew Warren Pope; and his son-in-law Michael Cobb. He is survived by his wife; his sister Peggy Pope; children Patty Farlow (Bob), Eddy (Maria), Laurie Lewis (Dennis), Robert (Gretchen), and Mary Ryan Cobb. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Ryan Farlow (Rayma), Barbara Jackson (Andrew), Jose Antonio Aguirre Sotelo, Maria Aguirre Sotelo, Raymond Lewis (Jenny), Jeffrey Lewis (Nicole), Craig Ryan, Mark Ryan (Kyndil), Scott Ryan (Kate), Parker Cobb (Brittney), and Ashley Cobb (Taylor). He is also survived by his great-grandchildren: Cora, Vivian, Quinn, Anna, Alex, Jaden, Madison, Clementine, Gemma, Patrick, Dean, and Thomas.; along with nieces Donna Ricalde and Becky Gonzalez. He lived ninety-five years, not nearly long enough for those who knew and loved him. He will be greatly missed. The family wishes to thank all the doctors and nurses and caretakers who through their professionalism and compassion helped ease Ed’s transition to his new life.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend services at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA on Monday, October 19, 2026. Visitation will be from 11:00am until 1:00pm when the Mass begins. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park.
