Obituary
OBITUARY
William Raymond Bryan, age 78, of Englewood Florida went into the arms of his loving Savior on June 7, 2022. Bill was born on December 10, 1943 in Hamilton, Ohio. He graduated from Preble Shawnee High School in Camden, Ohio. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he majored in English. His first teaching job was at New Miami school in New Miami, Ohio. He then became the very first Elementary Guidance Counselor in Ohio. After that he was a Social Worker for several schools in Butler County. He then pursued his Master’s degree in Administration working as a teaching principal for Somerville and Marie Schmidt elementary schools. The next step in his career as an educator was principal of what was at that time the largest elementary school in the state of Ohio, Kramer Elementary in Oxford, Ohio. Then he became principal at the new Marshall Elementary school in Oxford until retiring after 30 years in education in 1996. After moving to Florida in 1998, he enjoyed teaching at several Christian schools.
Bill married Janice Blake on August 13, 1966. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Reverend Robert Maxwell Bryan and Ethel (Fields) Bryan, brother, James Riley (Geraldine), brother, Jerry Riley (Gayle), sister, Florena Payne (Paul), and sister, Ada (Johnny). He is survived by son, Michael (Rhonda), son, David (Wendy), brother, Timmy Riley (Margaret), brother, Butch Riley (Jeanne) and 6 grandchildren, Ellie, Blake, Madison, Morgan, Colson, and Kaiden as well as Maddie Moore who was like a granddaughter, all of whom he loved dearly.
His favorite activity was walking 5 miles daily in Lemon Bay Park in Englewood, Florida where he was known as the “Mayor”. He loved southern gospel music and had sung duets with Janice for over 60 years. Bill was Pastor of the Timberhill Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ohio from 1984-1996 and was a long-time member of Colonial Baptist Church in Venice, Florida.
Bill loved his country, his church, his family and many friends, but most of all his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All who knew Bill was touched by his kindness, love, giving and charitable heart. Bill faithfully served the churches where the Lord directed him and did exactly what the Lord had planned for him and he will never be forgotten. A Celebration of Life will be held later in Hamilton, Ohio and in Venice, Florida. Anyone wishing to make a donation as a memorial should be sent to the building fund at Colonial Baptist Church, 2400 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice, FL 34293.
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