More detail on this person: Patrick Francis Ryan, 71 Patrick F. Ryan Pilot, The (Southern Pines, NC) - Monday, July 22, 2013 Patrick Francis Ryan, 71, of Pinehurst, passed away Saturday, July 20, 2013, at the FirstHealth Hospice House after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer that lasted nearly two years. Visitation will be Thursday, July 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines. A funeral Mass will be held Friday, July 26, at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Southern Pines. Burial will take place at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery. Pat was born Nov. 1, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa. Rumor has it his parents paid the hospital bill for his birth with a wagonload of potatoes. He was a farm boy who turned down a college scholarship to play football and joined the Army. As a PFC, he became a crew chief for Army helicopters at Fort Richardson, Alaska. He served his three years and returned to Iowa to farm, but he never got over his love for helicopters. Pat rejoined the Army and became an Army aviator as a warrant officer. Pat went to Vietnam as a UH-1 Huey pilot, returned, and received a direct commission to first lieutenant. He then completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He returned to Vietnam for a second tour. Pat was promoted to captain, and the Army sent him back to school for a master's degree in contract and procurement management at Florida Institute of Technology. He was then asked to sit on a selection board to purchase future helicopters for the Army while he continued to log his flight time. Pat had a one-year tour in Korea before he retired as a major after 20 years in the Army. After his military service, Pat entered an 18-year civilian career in contract procurement with Andrew Corporation. He retired as director of corporate contracts after traveling most of the world on business. Pat and his wife Chris retired to their home state of Iowa for five years, but the snow blower broke, and they decided to move to North Carolina. Pat worked part-time at Boles Funeral Home and volunteered at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital until his cancer diagnosis. Pat had several passions in his retirement. He enjoyed golf, gardening, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals. He trained and became a master gardener, but he was still working on master golfer. He and Chris celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past December. Pat is survived by his wife Mary Christine (Chris); daughter, Suzanne and her husband, David, and son, Toby, and his wife, Heather. Pat loved his three wonderful grandchildren Brogan, Patrick, and Rosemary. He is also survived by his sister, Jonelle (Ryan) Dedrick. He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Elizabeth Ryan, and his sister, Donna (Ryan) O'Shaughnessy. Online condolences may be left at www.bolesfuneralhome.com Memorials may be directed to FirstHealth Hospice and Palliative Care, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Many thanks for all the caring thoughts, prayers, cards, messages, and meals these past two years.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/06/2020
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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