Mr Robert "Bobby" Ryan Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Robert “Bobby” Ryan, age 90, passed away Sunday January 13, 2019 at his residence in Magnolia Springs, Ala. He was born January 31, 1928 on the Ryan farm in Dyas, Ala. and was a long term resident of Bay Minette, Ala. The son of John Joseph and Margaret Mary (Perdue) Ryan who emigrated from Synone Farm north of Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland, Bobby was the seventh of eight children: Anne, John, Michael, Nicholas, Francis, Agnes, Robert and Adolph, and survived by Agnes and Adolph. Still in the remnant grips of the Great Depression, Bobby went to work at the Mobile, Ala. shipyards at age 14 (under the credentials provided by a Perdido School teacher stating that he was age 16) a common practice in those desperate times. In 1946, Bobby enlisted in the US Navy and served with distinction for four years. Bobby’s natural traits of mathematical acumen and mechanical precision led him to a 31-year career as a journeyman machinist, initially at Brookley Air Force Base in Mobile, Ala. (until its closure in 1969) and then at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla. until his retirement in 1983. During his career, Bobby received recognition for his innovative and precise work with helicopter gear systems and multiple NASA Project Apollo spacecraft. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Kathleen, his five children Robert (Beth), Pamela, Stephen, David (Holly), and Mark (Kelley); four grandchildren Kimberly (Alex) Pringle, Alison (Sean) Wilkey, Anna and Rachel Ryan; and two great-grandchildren Hannah and Evan Pringle. Bobby was devoted to his wife and extended family, and was known to pray nightly for each by name before sleeping. Bobby had a deep love and appreciation for the outdoors whether camping, hunting or fishing and spent his most enjoyable hours with his family there. Bobby was known as kind and gentle and as a good friend.

Mr Robert "Bobby" Ryan

January 31, 1928 - January 13, 2019