RYAN, Thomas A.
Age 73, crossed over to his heavenly home on January 3, 2021. He was born in Middletown, OH, the second of a set of twins on December 29, 1947, to Robert and Rita (Schaiper) Ryan. Tom grew up in the Mayfield neighborhood of Middletown, graduating from Lemon Monroe High School in 1966. Immediately
after high school, Tom
followed in his father's footsteps, a WWII Guadalcanal Marine, and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 – 1969, serving in the jungles of Vietnam. He was a proud veteran of the Tet Offensive, or "TET VET" as one of his hats he frequently wore said. After
returning from Vietnam, he met and married the love of his life, Karen Duff on October 3, 1970. Shortly thereafter, Tom was born again by trusting Jesus Christ as his personal savior under the ministry of his friend Howard Sears and the Grace Baptist Church. Working at Armco, and two children already, Tom answered God's call on his life to preach and moved to Springfield Missouri to attend the Baptist Bible College from 1974 – 1978, graduating with his Bachelors of Science in
Theology. While in college, Tom and Karen had two more children. Tom started the Grace Baptist Church in Washington Court House, Ohio, and pastored the Grace Baptist Church in Mason, Ohio, the Liberty Baptist Church in Waynesville, Ohio, and the First Baptist Church in Bethel, Ohio, during his forty plus years in ministry. When not pastoring, he was always
active either teaching Sunday School in the Grace Baptist Church in Middletown, Elder in Trinity Baptist Temple in
Middletown, teaching High School Bible at Heritage Christian School in Middletown, and, lately, Associate Pastor at the
Indian Springs Baptist Church in Hamilton. He will be truly missed by all who knew him. Tom is survived by his wife of fifty years Karen Ryan; children, Jeff (Yvonne) Ryan, Amy (Dan) Holtgrefe, and Seth (Nann) Ryan; his twin sister, Judy (Don) Dixon; brother Bob Ryan; grandchildren, Dede Thompson,
Susan Bradshaw, Daniel Holtgrefe, Julie Murray, Robin Holtgrefe, Dennis Holtgrefe, Thomas Holtgrefe, Joshua Holtgrefe, Emily Ryan, Katelyn Ryan, Shiloh Ryan, Abigail Ryan, and Caleb Ryan; 24 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many cherished friends that became family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Rita Ryan; and his youngest son, Eric Robert "Big E" Ryan.
The Grace Baptist Church of Middletown, Ohio, has graciously offered their facility to allow for a safe and socially distanced service where all of his family and friends may attend if they so choose. Visitation will be 5-7 PM, Thursday, January 7, 2021, and 10-11 AM, Friday, January 8, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church, 3023 Union Road, Franklin, OH 45005. Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM at the church with Pastor Joe French
officiating. Burial will follow at Woodside Cemetery.
RYAN, Thomas
