Gene Gary Ryan, Delaware Tech retiree

Gene Gary Ryan, 87, of Georgetown passed away Monday, Oct. 14, 2019, at Beebe Healthcare after a brief illness.

Gene was born in Frankford, son of the late Leroy H. Sr. and Christine (McCarthy) Ryan. He was a lifelong resident of Sussex County.

Gene worked at Delaware Technical Community College, retiring in 1995. He was a life member of Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company Station #77, and a member of the Elks Lodge #2173. He enjoyed fishing in his younger years with his dear friend Clinton Workman, as well as camping and boating.

In addition to his parents, Gene is preceded in death by his brother, Leroy H. Ryan Jr. of Frankford.

He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Patricia (Keough) Ryan; two daughters, Christine Ryan Swain and her husband Steven T. Swain of Georgetown, and Michelle Ryan Brace and her husband Michael Brace of Laurel; grandchildren Renee Adams and fiancé Brandon Veasey of Lewes, Jennifer Swain Sapienza and her husband Joseph Sapienza of Covington, Va., and Steven T. Swain II and his wife Chelsea Swain of Millsboro; and seven great-grandchildren, Annabella, Lucianna, Reagan, Kadence, Caleb, Saylor and Cambree.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20, in the chapel of Short Funeral Services,  609 E. Market St., Georgetown.  A time of visitation for family and friends will begin at noon.

Interment will be held privately.

The family wishes to give a special thank you to the nurses and staff of Harrison Senior Living, Gene’s residence for the past seven years, for their kindness, loving care and compassion during his time there.  

Flowers are accepted, or contributions in Gene’s memory may be forwarded to Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company, PO Box 77, Georgetown, DE 19947.