Robert W. Ryan

ROBERT W. (BOB) RYAN, 85, died Thursday, October 24th, in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Bob, the fourth child of Thomas and Molly Flynn Ryan, was born January 20, 1917, in Boston, Massachusetts. Bob graduated from Brookline High School and went on to attend Harvard University, from which he graduated with honors in 1940. He also earned an MBA from Harvard in 1942. Throughout his life, he maintained close ties to Harvard. During college, Bob was in the ROTC and joined the United States Army after graduation. He was initially station in Ft. Worth, Texas, and during World War II, served in the Pacific. He was stationed in Australia. New Zealand, New Guinea, and the Philippines. He ended his military career with the rank of Major. On June 4, 1943, Bob married Virginia Caid Carson in Ft. Worth. After the end of the war, they first settled in Massachusetts, and later lived in Kansas City, Missouri, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Dallas, Houston, and after his retirement, Katy, Texas. In 1954, when it was formed, Bob joined The Offshore Company. He retired from The Offshore Company, now known as Transocean, in 1982, after a long and distinguished career. He served as Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. During his time with the company he earned the affection and respect of his fellow employees. Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia. Bob is survived by his daughter, Janice Ryan, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, his daughter Molly McFall and son-in-law, Humphrey McFall, of Oxford, England, his grandchildren, Will, Greg, and Mary Janacek, Haldane and Matilda McFall, granddaughters-in-law, Kaye and Lori Janacek, and great-grandchildren, Jonathan, Zach and Jake Janacek. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy., Houston, TX 77079. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, November 1, 2002 at the Chapel of Memorial Oaks Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.