Cover photo for William Thomas Ryan's Obituary
William Thomas Ryan Profile Photo
1928 William 2021

William Thomas Ryan

November 10, 1928 — September 28, 2021

William (Bill)Thomas Ryan, Jr., 92 of Hanahan, SC, husband of Dorothy Ostendorff Ryan, entered into eternal rest Tuesday, September 28, 2021. His funeral service will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Bethany Cemetery, 10 Cunnington Avenue, Charleston, SC at 11:00 AM. The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Friday October 8, 2021, at J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Northwoods Chapel, 2180 Greenridge Road. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing.

To view the funeral service video please visit the following: https://www.tributeslides.com/tributes/show/K4WYN96H69KR6N7G

Bill was born November 10, 1928, in Charleston Heights, SC, to the late William Thomas Ryan, Sr., and Marie Louise Mappus Ryan. Bill was a graduate of Bishop England High School and a graduate of Clemson AandM College which later became Clemson University, Class of 1950, where he received a BS degree in Textile Engineering and received a reserve commission in the United States Air Force (USAF). In 1953, he was called by the United States Air Force Reserve to his first duty station at Donaldson AFB, Greenville, SC as a 2nd Lieutenant. In July,1957, he was selected to the regular Air Force. Overall, he served 22 years in the Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He proudly served in the United States Air Force with assignments including Morocco, San Antonio, TX, Fort Ritchie, MD, Pentagon (Washington DC), Norfolk, VA, Paris, France, Mons, Belgium, Vietnam, Chicopee, Massachusetts and Honolulu, Hawaii. He received the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, Joint Service Commendation, and other service medals. Upon his retirement from the USAF in 1975, he was employed with Lockheed Martin Corporation, Goose Creek, SC at the Naval Weapons Station he retired in 1992. Upon returning to the low country, Bill also served on the Board and as Treasurer at Tri-County Ministries, Hanahan School Board, member of the choir at Advent Lutheran Church, Honorary Life Member of the Lutheran Men of the former St Andrews Lutheran Church, President of the Church Council of the former St. Andrews Lutheran Church, Staff Commander of Military Order of The World Wars, poll worker for Berkeley County, member of the German Friendly Society, Member of the Deutscher Bruderliche Bund, assisted in the construction of the fellowship hall of Messiah Lutheran Church, Charleston Supper Club, Former Board Member of Franke of Seaside, Innkeeper Society of Franke at Seaside, President of the Otranto Civic Club, worked with Junior Achievement, Military Officers Association of America and Member of Lutheran Men and Missions. Bill had such a positive outlook on life. He had true love for God, his family, his country, Clemson and his love and joy radiated to others. He loved gardening and riding his bicycle. He will be remembered for his smile and his willingness to help others.

Besides his wife Dorothy of 71 years, Bill is survived by his daughter, Paula Ryan, daughter, Donna Elizabeth Ryan Dowis (Jim), Granddaughter Gina Ryan Dowis Wiitanen (Jeff), Great Grandson Taylor Wiitanen, Great Granddaughter Abby Ryan Wiitanen, Grandson William Brian Dowis (Emily), son William Thomas (Tom) Ryan, III, (Laura), Grandson Caleb Ryan (Molly) , Great Granddaughter Margaret Ryan, Great Granddaughter Bonnie Ryan, Granddaughter Cameron Ryan Jones (Paul), Great Granddaughter Marilyn Jones, Great Granddaughter Laura Jane Jones, Great Grandson Charlie Jones, Great Grandson George Jones, Grandson Adam Ryan (Daley) and Great Grandson Otto Ryan.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Clemson University.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Thomas Ryan, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, October 8, 2021

4:00 - 6:00 pm

J. Henry Stuhr Inc., Northwoods Chapel

2180 Greenridge Rd, North Charleston, SC 29406

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Funeral Ceremony

Saturday, October 9, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am

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