More detail on this person: Thomas Frank
Rylands (Tom), died July 8, 2015 after a brief,
yet aggressive battle with cancer.
Born to parents Thomas Daniel and Irene Bell
Rylands on February 15, 1943 in Central Falls, RI,
he grew up an only child after the death of his
father in WW2 when Tom was 16 months old. He
attended Tolman Senior High School and the
University of Rhode Island.
During his college years, Tom supported himself by
managing three bands that played events
throughout Rhode Island. He worked hard to pay for
college and help support his dear mother, whom he
loved so. Music was a passion of his and he
continued to play clarinet and saxophones, until
his diagnosis of cancer came in June of this year.
He was a faithful member of the East Cooper
Baptist Church orchestra for over 10 years and
loved that group of musicians very much.
Despite being a sole surviving son, and being
exempt from military service, Tom chose to serve
his country. He believed that if his father could
die for this country, then he could certainly give
a few years. He served as a helicopter pilot from
1966-1969 for the US Army. After military service,
Tom entered the field of education where he would
spend the next 40 years of his life investing in
the lives of others as both a Math teacher and a
school administrator.
Tom was a loyal friend and really invested in the
lives of those he loved. He was so proud of his
daughters, and enjoyed a special relationship with
them both as they grew into independent and
thoughtful young women. He was also a lifelong
reader. He would read multiple books in a week's
time and always had one in his hand each evening.
Likely the most memorable of Tom's attributes was
his quick wit and humor. You couldn't talk to Tom
for very long without hearing a story that would
end in a surprising punchline. He used to say that
he'd forgotten more jokes than most people would
ever hear. HIs humor and love of the English
language will be a legacy that he leaves for many
generations to come.
He is survived by his wife, Angie, and their 5
school aged sons, Colin, Connor, Cameron, Cooper
and Tommy; his daughters and sons-in-law, Krisha
and Sigmund Jones and Heidi and Brad Farmer, all
of Lawrenceville, VA, whom he shared with former
spouse, Anne Lewis Rylands, and their 5
grandsons, Mason, Berkeley, Jacob, Judson and
Jaxon.
The service will be officiated by Pastor Dean
Henderson at East Cooper Baptist Church ,
Saturday July 11, 2015 at 10 am followed by
visitation with the family immediately following.
Funeral arrangements are provided by Carolina
Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can
be made to either the family directly, for the
Rylands boys' college fund or Lifeline Children's
Services in memory of Tom.
Arrangements provided by CAROLINA MEMORIAL
PARK, FUNERALS and CREMATIONS, 7113
Rivers Ave., North Charleston, SC 29406 (843)
797-2222. A memorial message may be sent to the
family by visiting www.carolinamemorial.com
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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