Obituary of Gerald Daniel Ryan

Gerald Daniel “Jerry” Ryan, age 84, died peacefully in Richmond, Virginia, Tuesday, December 13, 2022, at Bon Secours Community Hospice House in Bon Air, Va.

Born in Saint Louis, Mo, on December 8, 1938, to Alice Bridget Mogan and John Joseph Ryan, Jerry grew up in nearby St. Ann in a large and loving family, which included his brother, Joseph, and sisters, Mary Alice, Nancy, and Ellen.

Jerry was a lifelong Catholic and a graduate of St. Gregory’s School and Christian Brothers College in St. Louis. He began his career in finance and accounting with the Wabash Railroad in St. Louis and, later, with Norfolk & Western Railway when the two railroads merged. In 1964, he moved to Roanoke, Virginia, where he met his future wife, Jeanette Rakes, who also worked for Norfolk & Western. They married in 1967 and made their home in north Roanoke, where they raised a family. A lifelong golfer, Jerry was a member of the VSGA and Botetourt Country Club, where he won several tournaments after his retirement in 1993. He and Jeanette also enjoyed traveling, especially to the beaches of South Carolina and Florida. Jerry also coached sandlot soccer for several years in Roanoke County and Vinton.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 42 years, Jeanette; sisters Mary Alice Hungerford (Tom) and Nancy Hoffman (Bill) and brother-in-law, Orren Rakes. He is survived by his brother, Joseph (Rosalie); sister, Ellen; stepson, Douglas Payne (Lynn); daughter, Allison Ryan; son Michael (Rachelle); sister-in-law, Sandra Rakes (Ernest); brother-in-law Larry Rakes (Patricia); and five grandchildren, Turner, Charlie, Kate, Kennedy, and Josie, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service for family and friends will be officiated by Monsignor Patrick Golden on Saturday, December 17, at 11:30 am at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, 5737 Airport Road NW. Friends are also invited to join the family at 1:30 pm at the Hotel Roanoke’s Pine Room. Instead of flowers, the family would welcome donations to the Bon Secours Community Hospice House, 1133 Old Bon Air Road, Richmond, VA 23235.