Jack Eugene Ryder

1936 - 2023

Ryder, Jack Eugene

July 5, 1936 - November 6, 2023

Early on the morning of November 6, 2023, the world lost a great man, a loving husband and wonderful father. Jack Eugene Ryder of Winston-Salem died peacefully in his sleep. He is survived by his wife Ann Denton Ryder and son Gregory Ryan Ryder, his sisters Judy Ryder Heiss of Florence, Kentucky and Rhonda Ryder Baker of Charlottesville, Virginia. He was preceded to the grave by his oldest son, Richard Ware Ryder, who passed in 2008 after a long struggle with illness.

Born in rural Virginia on July 5, 1936 to Ernest and Loraine Ryder, he grew up in Bedford and attended high school there. That is where he met and pursued his life-long love Ann. He attended the University of Richmond, while also working as a taxi driver. After graduation he followed the Lord's call and attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC and was ordained as a pastor in 1960. Though financially wanting, his family knew nothing but love from him, and began a long life together.

His first church was located in Bent Mountain, Virginia where, as the story is told, the family lived in a house built during, and still having axe marks in the door from, the Revolutionary War. From there he was called to the First Baptist Church of Quaker Gap, where he served before moving to Winston-Salem to become chaplain at Forsyth Memorial Hospital, serving there for three decades.

An avid Redskins fan, bowler and guitar player, he was known for his faith, humor and humility. After years serving as an interim pastor to numerous congregations he finally retired and began many years of rest and relaxation.

While he will be sorely missed by those he left behind, we can find solace in the fact that his faith and resolute belief in our Lord's teaching will bring him his heavenly reward. We know this because...

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

And so he lives on, and we can hope to be reunited with him again.