Robert Charles Bryan

Monday, November 30, 2009

Robert Charles Bryan, 87, of Lexington, Ky. died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009 at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington.

He was born March 28, 1922 in Vernon, N.Y. to the late William Bell Bryan and Ruth Lyon Bryan. He was a member of Crestwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ.)

He graduated from Stanford High School in 1940. In 1943, he entered World War II in the Army Air Corps, became a pilot and served in the European Theater, Market Gardens Campaign, flying C-47 aircraft.

Mr. Bryan obtained his commercial pilot license and was discharged in December 1945. He completed a B.S. degree in agriculture with the University of Kentucky in 1948. From 1952 to 1955, he served in the U.S.A.F. as pilot and operations officer, Stewart AFB, N.Y. and later as B-26 pilot in Korea.

He was employed by U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service as Soil Scientist, then Agricultural Economist, then various management positions. He was chief, Procurement Management Branch, Soil Conservation Service in Washington, D.C., where he retired in 1977.

He was employed by Kentucky Land Improvement Contractors of America as Executive Secretary of the Kentucky Chapter from 1977 to 1982. He also owned a dairy farm in Lincoln County, Ky. from 1951-60; was president and major stockholder of family owned businesses in Lexington and Greenville, Miss. from 1961 to 1988.

He was the Founder of the Lincoln County Educational Fund. During the life of the fund, 75 students have received awards: 26 have graduated and 20 are still in college. He was a member of Caswell Saufley Post #18 American Legion.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Betsy Pettus Bradshaw Bryan of Lexington; three daughters, Rebecca Bryan Crunk of Fairfax, Va., Margaret Bryan Champion and husband Paul of Greencastle and Marie Bryan Weaver and husband Kenny of Elizabethtown, Ky.; sister Bettie Marie Pence of Stanford; five grandchildren, Georgia Carol Holko, James Robert Champion, Elizabeth Michelle Boucher, John Christopher Weaver and Andrea Elizabeth Weaver; and one great-grandson, Charles Michael Boucher.

His brother William Bell Bryan Jr. preceded him in death.

Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Spurlin Funeral Home in Stanford. Crestwood Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ministers will be officiating. Military Honors will be presented by Caswell Saufley Post #18 American Legion.

Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Casket bearers will be Alfred Harris Pence Jr., Earl Pfanstiel, Richard Quiggins, Paul Champion, Kenny Weaver, Louis Holko and Joe Vice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Lincoln County Educational Fund, P.O. Box 423, Stanford, Ky. 40484.