GLENBURN – Ronald D. Ryan, 69, died Oct. 29, 2006, surrounded by his loving family, at home. He was born Nov. 14, 1936, in Bradford, the son of Edwin and Bessie (True) Ryan. Ronnie graduated from Bradford High School in 1956 and on September 8, he married Loretta A. Welch. They moved to Bangor for a few years where Ronnie was employed by Pepsi Bottling Co. He also worked for R.B. Dunning Co. for many years. He and Loretta moved to Glenburn in 1964. Ronnie was a selectman for the town of Glenburn for four years. He had the knack to buy and sell, and decided to sell used cars. Together, he and Paul Pray started Lucky Auto Sales, now Prays Auto, and their motto was “If it weren’t for bad luck they would have no luck at all.” Ronnie owned and operated Ron’s Amoco, Ron’s Mobile, for many years before trying to retire. He went to work for M.L. Coffin for a few years and mowed the roadsides for the state of Maine. One of Ronnie’s greatest accomplishments was learning to fly, which he enjoyed for many years. He had a lifelong interest in cars and trucks of any kind, and John Deere Tractors and at one time he had 13! He restored many and resold or horse-traded them. He was never afraid to tackle any job, and usually he fixed whatever he attempted, one way or the other. He was always ready to help family, friends or even strangers and will be sadly missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Loretta (Welch) Ryan of Glenburn; five sons and their wives, Barry and Gail also of Glenburn, Craig and Melody of Bangor, Brent and Joy, Kevin and Gaynor, Robert and Kim, all of Glenburn; one daughter and her husband, Marylou (Ryan) Helms and Tom of Orrington; three brothers, Edwin Ryan Jr. of Bradford, Clayton Ryan and his wife, Esther, of Orono and Darrel Ryan of Bangor; three sisters, Gloria Tunks of Dover-Foxcroft, Jacqueline Allen of Portland, Connie and her husband, Austin Lyford, of Bradford; nine grandchildren, Kent, Jeremy and his wife, Kara, Courtney and her husband, Brian, Chad and his wife, Krissy, Chris, Audrey, Devan, Joshua, Krista; four great-grandchildren; special Aunt Lil of Charleston; special sister-in-law, Leona and her husband, Harold Johnson, of Bangor; brother-in-law, Eugene Welch and his wife, Lorraine, of Veazie; sister-in-law, Margaret Welch of Bangor; several nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Geraldine Tunks; and his brother-in-law, Raymond Welch. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, with the Rev. Donald Booker and Donald Dunfee officiating. Friends may call 11 a.m. Wednesday until time of the service. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery, Glenburn. Gifts in his memory may be sent to Hospice of St. Joseph, attention Nicole Heanssler, P.O. Box 1638, Bangor, ME 04402-1368 or Maine Parkinson Association, 100 Campus Drive, Unit 106, Scarborough, ME 04074. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com
RONALD D. RYAN
