George Edward Ryan III

George Edward Ryan III left this life to embark on his final adventure on January 30, 2024. Born on March 1, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, George lived a life that was as vibrant and enduring as the Windy City itself.

George was the first child of George Edward Ryan Jr. and Margaret Mjoen. He eventually became a beloved brother to his siblings John, Tom, Corine, and Terry. As a boy he loved socializing, especially with the girls. He also loved baseball, so much so that he and two friends once chopped down a tree in a Chicago public park "because it was in the way" of their game that day. His mother failed to see this logic when she received a bill from the city for George's share of the cost of a new tree. He was the batboy for his father's baseball team where his dad nicknamed him "Corky" and he was forever known as "Cork" to his Chicago family.

George's dad died when he was 15 and he joined the Air Force at age 17 with his mother's consent to help support his family. He had multiple jobs in the military: fixing jet fighters, combat controller, electronics instructor, and finally as a cryptologic communications specialist. One of George's favorite military memories as a "comm troop" was occasionally calling from the US to catch up with his baby brother Terry who was in the Army assigned to General Abram's staff in Europe...by calling PFC Ryan on the General's office phone. George was extremely proud of his service in the Korean War and earned the Presidential Unit Citation among other medals and awards in his career. Decades later, he was once approached by an elderly Korean woman in the base exchange store who saw him wearing his favorite Korean War Veteran ballcap and she took his hand and told him "Thank you for saving my country." His heart was forever deeply touched by that unforgettable moment. George also helped install the equipment in the newly constructed NORAD inside Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado. After retiring from the Air Force in 1968, he put his socializing skills to good use as an insurance salesman for Prudential and in sales and merchandising for R.J. Reynolds-Nabisco before he fully retired at age 60 in 1991. Needing something to occupy his time in retirement, George decided to make going to the gym his new job, and everyone who knew him was duly impressed that he went faithfully twice a week for almost thirty years until he passed.

George married his wife Carolyn in California in 1963. No matter what job or hobby she was involved in, George was her biggest fan and always supported her endeavors 100%. Their daughter Kellee was born at the Air Force Academy in 1969, after he told Carolyn he wanted "either a girl or a Volkswagen, but no boys!" These two stubborn, alpha personalities successfully navigated their way together through 60 years of marriage; she once looked at him lovingly and told him "I'm so crazy about you!" to which he replied "Yup, you're crazy alright!" Some of their fondest memories together were honeymooning in San Juan Capistrano, a trip to Washington DC that Kellee gave them, touring the Black Hills of South Dakota, and once spending Christmas in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His "beat it until it fits, or break it to get a new one" philosophy on home repairs, penchant for buying too many jackets and new cars, and never putting anything back where he got it from (among many other things) exasperated her to no end, but Carolyn was always proud and supportive of her husband. However, she is still waiting for her Combat Patience Medal to arrive.

George loved fatherhood and always told Kellee "You're my best work". He watched Sesame Street with her (he got a big kick out of The Count), spent many summers throwing the Frisbee with her in the street after dinner every night, never went easy on her in countless games of cribbage or lawn darts, taught her to drive a stick (with the obligatory swearing necessary to complete the task) and dispensed valuable life lessons and advice along the way. George also shared his love of the Air Force with Kellee by driving her out to the flightline at the local base on the weekends to watch the airplanes with her when she was a little girl. She enlisted at age 19 and retired from the Air Force twenty years later, the same rank as her dad.

George loved to laugh and make others laugh with great stories and jokes he shared. He was drawn to comedies of any kind, avidly watching TV shows like Laugh-In, Soap, M*A*S*H*, The Carol Burnett Show, and Friends. Mel Brooks movies like "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" were his favorites and The Three Stooges would make him laugh until he cried. He also enjoyed cartoons, watching Bugs Bunny and Co. with Kellee on Saturday mornings (Carolyn was not at all surprised to find Yosemite Sam and Wile E. Coyote were his favorites) and later, he never passed up an opportunity to re-watch "Hotel Transylvania" and anything with the little yellow minions. He loved animals (except snakes) and was a good dad to many family dogs, the neighbor's cat, Kellee's gerbils, and the neighborhood birds and squirrels.

In retirement, George proposed state legislation that Colorado residents in the military should not have to pay state taxes while serving overseas. When Governor Bill Owens signed the bill into law, George felt this was one of his finest accomplishments and he was pleased to have created such an enduring legacy and "give something back". During his long life, George enjoyed the Chicago Cubs, loved all kinds of music especially barbershop and Big Band, paid off the family home, read thousands of books, walked thousands of miles behind his lawnmower, and drove thousands of miles on family road trips. He was known for his steadfast patriotism and the neighbors would actually call the house to check if everything was okay if there was a rare day he didn't put up his American flag.

George leaves behind a treasure trove of memories for his family and friends. He was the guy who always had a twinkle in his eye and always had a story for every occasion, and they will continue to lovingly share his tales and keep his spirit alive. George is most assuredly sharing new stories with his brothers Tom and Terry in the Great Beyond over his favorite breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns, toast, and coffee.

A fitting salute to a man of service, George's life will be celebrated with full military honors on April 5, 2024, at 2 PM at Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs.

For those wishing to honor George's legacy in a way that would make him smile, please consider a donation to Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District.

"Some say they get lost in books, but I find myself, again and again, in the pages of a good book. Humanly speaking, there is no greater teacher, no greater therapist, no greater healer of the soul, than a well-stocked library." ~ L. R. Knost