William A. Ryder

William Ryder YALAHA, Fla. #45;- William A. Ryder, 77, of Yalaha, formerly of Wilton, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2001, in Leesburg, Fla. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wilton. The Rev. Brian Shepley will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jerry Moylan, Rick Morrison, Tom Kowalski, Tommy Kowalski, Larry Steker, and Chuck Steker. Honorary pallbearers will be Short Morrison, Mel Nicholas, John Springer and Ed Touhe. Burial will be in Oakdale Cemetery in Wilton. Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday at the Bentley Funeral Home in Wilton. A Christian wake service will be 5 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Mr. Ryder was born on Oct. 16, 1923, in Chicago, Ill., the son of Andrew and Wynn Waller Ryder. His birth mother died during child birth and he was raised by his parents, Andrew and Alice Shannon Ryder. He married Norma J. Lynch on March 17, 1982, in Florida. He served in the Navy during World War II where he served on a light cruiser, the USS Birmingham. After his active duty he served in the Navy Reserve for more than 30 years. He was employed by the Wilton REC for over 30 years as the Billing and Members Services Director. ...[more]

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was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Yalaha, the Elks Club in Tavares, Seabees Fleet Reserve, the Knights of Columbus in Leesburg, and a lifetime member of the Wilton American Legion Post 584. He enjoyed dancing and music. Survivors include his wife, Norma Ryder of Yalaha; a daughter, Linda Smyers and her husband, Joel, of Muscatine; a son, Steve Ryder of Muscatine; a step-daughter, Karyn Albano of Woodale, Illinois; two step-sons, Charles Steker of Westchester, Illinois, and Larry Steker of Lake Zurich, Illinois; two sisters, Mary Sue Kowalski of Franklin Park, Illinois and Anne Lazzari of Darien, Illinois; his twin brother, Joseph Ryder of Homassassa, Florida; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his birth mother, Wynn Ryder; his father, Andrew Ryder; and his mother, Alice Ryder.