Oran Eugene “Gene” Ryan, 96, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon. He was born September 22, 1927, in Lebanon, a son of the late Oran Emery and Mildred Lavonne (Ridge) Ryan.
He was first married to Betty Jo (Anderson) Ryan on July 1, 1950, in Lebanon. She passed away on November 9, 1993. On March 1, 1997, he was married to Mary Alice (White) Glendenning Ryan in Indianapolis. She preceded him in death on December 31, 2015.
A lifelong resident of Lebanon, Indiana, Gene was a 1947 graduate of Lebanon High School. He served his country honorably in the United States Army for 20 years with the 38th Division Artillery and retired as Command Sergeant Major. Gene was a member of the Retired Officers Association in Washington, DC. He would annually attend the reunion of Camp Atterbury that began after WWII.
Gene was on the Founding Board of the Lebanon 4th of July Festivals. From 1968–1989, he was employed at Stewart–Warner Corporation in Lebanon and the South Wind Division in Indianapolis from 1983–1989 as an office manager.
Gene enjoyed fishing and was skilled in writing calligraphy. He and Mary Alice enjoyed taking trips to Michigan and enjoyed seeing the lighthouse. Gene liked to quote General Douglas MacArthur, “Old soldiers never die–they just fade away”.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wives, his son, Kevin Eugene Ryan, and his brother, Forrest Ralph Ryan.
Funeral Services are planned for 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Myers Mortuary, 1502 North Lebanon Street, in Lebanon, Indiana. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of services. Interment with Military Rites will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon.
Memorials may be directed in his memory to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences: www.MyersMortuary.com