[ back ]
RYAN, JOSEPH EDWARD JR., 84
RYAN, JOSEPH EDWARD JR., 84, of Barre, died November 1 at his home. His family had been at his bedside. Born Sept. 6, 1928, in Lawrence, Mass., he was the son of Joseph E. and Mary (Stansfield) Ryan Sr. He and his family moved to St. Johnsbury in 1932, coming to Barre in 1938. Joe graduated from Spaulding High School in 1946. On Oct. 13, 1951, he married Beverly Jean Tarbox in the Barre Congregational Church, making their home in Barre City and then in East Barre. Beverly died Aug. 23, 1973. On April 11, 1975, Joe married Lucille (Hood) Perry in Fairlee. They lived in South Barre, and since 2008 at the Tilden House in Barre City. In 1944, he began a long tenure in the food condiment and grocery sales business, working as a clerk at the First National Store in Montpelier and in 1951 becoming a salesman for the Red Rose Tea Co., leaving them in 1964 to join the sales staff of the Burnham and Morrill Co. From 1968 to 1986, he was a sales representative for Durkee Famous Foods, completing his long career with the Reckitt and Benckiser Co. in 1990, when he retired. Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and serving his community. He was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) in Barre, having sung in the boys choir, and belonged to its Boy Scout Troop 5. Joe had also served as a church vestryman and treasurer of its Sunday school. He was a former deacon and currently an associate member of the East Barre Congregational Church and had been treasurer of the East Barre Boy Scout Troop. Joe was a York Rite Mason, being a past master of Granite Masonic Lodge 35, past high priest of Granite Chapter 26, RAM past thrice illustrious master of Barre Council 22 R and SM, past commander of St. Aldemar Commandery 11 K.T. all of Barre and Mount Sinai Shrine Temple 3 of Montpelier, where he had been captain of its Provost Guard. He also had been deputy grand master of Masonic District 6, past patron of Ruth Chapter 33 Order of the Eastern Star and belonged to the Square and Compass Club of Granite Masonic Lodge 35, the Scottish Rite Valley of Montpelier and the Consistory of the Valley of Burlington. Joe had been a reserve police officer for the Barre City and Barre Town police departments, and held membership in the Barre Canadian Club and Barre Fish and Game Club. Besides his wife, Lucille, he leaves his son Robert Ryan and wife, Patty, of Barre Town; daughter Susan Lyons and husband, Clarence, of Williamstown; stepson Alan Perry and wife, Peggy, of Douglas, Mass., and stepdaughter Cheryl Perry and fiancé, Tony Chaloux, also of Barre Town. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and five great-granddaughters, as well as his sister, Janet Wheatley, of Brookfield, and daughter-in-law Cindy Perry, of West Topsham. Besides his parents and his first wife, Beverly, he was predeceased by his son Michael Ryan and stepson Gordon Perry.
[ back ]
