WOODLAND – Donald Joseph Ryan Jr. was born June 2, 1948 in Rutland, VT to Donald Joseph Ryan, Sr. and Pauline Gretta Spittle Ryan.

He attended Immaculate Heart of Mary in Rutland, VT and Eau Gallie High School in Eau Gallie, which is now Melbourne, FL. He earned his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Petersburg Jr. College in St. Petersburg, FL and a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice from St. Leo College in Saint Leo, FL.

He served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1972 and also in the United States Navy from 1980 until 1984.  He worked for the Clearwater Police Department in Clearwater, FL from 1972 until 1980.

Bringing him and his family to Woodland, he became the owner and operator of The Minute Man Convenience Store in George, NC. From 1992 to 2010 he was the Police Chief of Woodland, NC.

Don Ryan truly loved people and never met a stranger. He spent his entire life serving people, both family and community. His family was his life, and there wasn’t a thing in this world he wouldn’t do for his grandchildren.

To those who knew him well know that he was always looking for a laugh. One of his greatest passions was genealogy and was quick to tell people he was related to President Abraham Lincoln.      

Don Ryan is survived by his wife, Susan Beck Ryan; daughters, Michelle and husband Mike Adams of Roanoke Rapids NC, and Donielle and husband Jimmy McDermott of Woodland, NC; seven grandchildren, Ryan, Emily, Maggie, and Abigail Adams of Roanoke Rapids, NC and Hannah, Rebecca, and Leah McDermott of Woodland, NC; his mother, Pauline Ryan Brown Vinson of Pine Forest Rest Home; sister, Fawn and husband Carlos Campos of Longmont, CO; brother, Kevin and wife Mary Ann Ryan of the Philippines; sister-in-law, Mary Beck; brothers-in-law, Denny Beck and wife Terri, Jimmy Beck and wife Becky, and John Beck and wife, Irene, all of Canandaigua, NY; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many foster children he loved along the way. His father, Donald Joseph Ryan, Sr. predeceases him.

He was a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Association of Chiefs of Police.

There will be viewing at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Ahoskie, NC on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 10 to 11 a.m. and a Funeral Mass will begin at 11 a.m. with a Graveside Service in the Woodland Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to one of the following: St, Charles Catholic Church, 122 NC 561 West, Ahoskie, NC 27910; Woodland Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 502, Woodland, NC 27897; or to the American Cancer Society, 930 A Wellness Dr., Greenville, NC 27834.

Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc. in Conway is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.bridgersfuneralhome.com.