John "Poppy" J. Ryan

John "Poppy" J. Ryan, Sr. 66, of Millstone Ave., Valdese, NC died unexpectedly February 25, 2006 at Frye Regional Medical Center. He was born in Kilkenny, Ireland on November 18, 1939 and was a son of the late Patrick L and Ellen Sier Ryan. Mr. Ryan was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force and retired from New York Shipping I.L.A. after 46 years of employment. He was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Staten Island, NY. John moved to Valdese with his wife, Ann, in November to be with his children and grandchildren.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, Ann Gottfried Ryan, of the home; sons, John J. Ryan, Jr. and Tina Ryan Benfield of Valdese and Kevin M. Ryan, Sr. and his wife Charlene, of Easton, Pennsylvania; brothers, Thomas Ryan, Desmond Ryan, Daniel Ryan, and Kevin Ryan; sisters, May Durham and Patrica Melnick; grandchildren, Tasha Ryan, Jonathan Ryan, Carissa Ryan, and Kevin Ryan, Jr.; and great-grandson, Jonathan W. "Little Man" Stogner, Jr.

The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 3, 2006, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with Rev. Kenneth Whittington and Rev. David Bean officiating. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery with military honors by Valdese American Legion Post 234. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, from 2:00 until 4 p.m. Thursday, and from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Sossoman Funeral Home.