May 2023

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Archie Bennett Ryan Jr., born on Friday, October 13th, 1934, in Peoria, Illinois to Reverend Archie Bennett Ryan and Ora Christine Bremicker Ryan. With his father being a Presbyterian Minister, the family moved to Missouri and other states and then settled in Bentonville, Arkansas when Archie was young. Archie attended school there and played the trumpet and clarinet in his high school band and later in the University of Arkansas band. _e Walton family attended Reverend Ryan’s church and of course the family shopped at Waltons 5 & 10! Archie even babysat the Walton children but that ended when Archie told them ghost stories and scared them! Archie always said Mrs. Helen Walton was the nicest lady he ever knew! Archie stayed friends with the Waltons and their children throughout his life, especially Jim and Alice. Archie loved Arkansas and Bentonville and always kept up with his high school friends, even having class reunions at the Ryan’s home on Beaver Lake. Archie attended the University of Arkansas and worked many jobs to get through college. He joined Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and made lifelong friends. He was very proud of his son, Dr. Archie B. Ryan and grandson, William Ryan who were also Sig Eps ~ 3 generations. _e army called and he went for 2 years and then Archie returned to the U of A where at a Sig Ep dance, he saw the girl he wanted to date and winked at her. She was with another young boy! _eir rst date was a week later at an Arkansas football game. _ey married on October 25, 1959. _e U of A was a big part of their lives from then on. Archie was promoted to Houston from Abilene, Texas where they lived 33 years and had a wonderful group of friends there. _ey also had their children Archie “B” and Heather. _e Ryans were very very busy in Houston. _ey were known for their St. Patrick’s Day parties, Easter brunches, dinner parties, football watch parties, and football trips. Archie starte