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. The 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.

The 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! Their first date was a week later at an Arkansas football game.  Archie married Suzanne on October 25, 1959. The 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. They also had their children Archie “B” and Heather.

The Ryans were very very busy in Houston. They were known for their St. Patrick’s Day parties, Easter brunches, dinner parties, football watch parties, and football trips. Archie started the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Houston, as well as in Eureka Springs. He was president of the Toastmasters club, Co-PTA president, and an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church. He also started and served as president many times for the Arkansas Alumni and served on the Alumni board. He and Suzanne traveled to Arkansas for all the board meetings and many fundraisers. Coach Holtz and Frank Broyles were regular visitors and Archie remained friends with them for many years. Archie also served on the Little League board, attended Indian Guides, and coached Heather’s softball team…their house was always the meeting place for friends and family.

Church was also a very important part of their family life. One of Archie’s greatest honors was being chosen as the “Alumni of the Year” at the University of Arkansas and given the Andy Lucas Award. Archie thought the world of Andy and Shirley Lucas.

He and Suzanne were also “Runner-Up” Parents of the Year when Heather attended the U of A as well. Archie also founded a scholarship to the U of A for a Houston graduate. After Heather and Archie graduated college and started their own lives, Archie and Suzanne moved home to Eureka Springs and bought a beautiful home on Beaver Lake. It had an incredible view of the mountains and the lake. They lived there for 31 years and loved every minute! Many Houston friends visited, their children and grandchildren came, brunches, two wedding receptions, parties, birthdays, fundraisers, PEO meetings, reunions and their grandchildren came each summer.

They were blessed with their 2nd group of amazing friends. Archie was in the Chorale and church choir for 30 years, sang in the “Opera in the Ozarks”, on the Bank Board (for 22 years) of Bank of Eureka Springs, later known as Cornerstone. Archie missed his hunting trips in Texas but went fishing with 3 great friends in Canada. He also fished at Cotter, Arkansas with his son many times.

Being on the Walton Arts Board for 6 years was something he enjoyed very much, and he loved the people on the board with him. And of course, attending each and every Razorback football and basketball game and bowl game was something he never wanted to miss!

Archie and Suzanne enjoyed traveling very much. They traveled all over Europe; they loved Italy, and of course Ireland and Scotland. Heather and Archie also went with them to Ireland, Wales and England. Suzanne’s parents even joined the family in England for Christmas and of course it snowed for the first time in 12 years! But, it was a trip to remember!

Archie was a character as everyone knew! He loved people and enjoyed playing in his little band for the Eureka Home Tour and other events. He was so proud of his Irish heritage and would sing “Danny Boy” at the drop of a hat (green hat of course). He loved to party and laugh and be with his family and especially grandchildren. He loved the University of Arkansas and the state of Arkansas. He was kindhearted and never met a stranger. He also loved his children and their spouses very much.

Archie was always fair, very religious, read his bible faithfully and he was extremely loyal to his friends. He was a wonderful father and husband, fabulous grandfather and great-grandfather. He led a wonderful, full life, with lots and lots of adventures! Go in peace, you’ll be missed, Archie tell all our friends in heaven hello and behave! “Call those hogs” once again like you did over the equator going to Rio with the Arkansas Alumni!

Archie is survived by his wife, Suzanne, of 63 years, his son, Dr. Archie B. Ryan (Jayne), his daughter, Heather Ryan Colomina (Jeff). He had 4 wonderful and much-loved grandchildren; Daniel Ryan (Ellie), Dr. William Ryan (Claire), Hannah, and Stuart Colomina. He had 3 darling great-grandchildren; Victoria and Max Ryan, and Edith Ryan, His brother-in-law Phillip Bullock (Margie), Jed (Tammy) and Hayden Bullock, Britt Bullock (Tammie) and their families, and Jan Shaw. He had so many loyal friends; Joe Raley, The Halls, The Burges, The Lees, Bruce Reynolds, Lynn Helfrich, Skip Britton, The Mafrige Family, and members of the Houston Arkansas Alumni, Peter Lane (Barb), ladies of Chapter A PEO, Holiday Island Presbyterian church members, The Cromers, The Mathis, The Hearns, The McKinneys, The Halls, The Johnsons, The Harrisons, Lanny Tamton (Ruthann), and Grassy Knob friends, all of the Bremicker cousins from California to Kentucky, Ted Bremicker (Kathy), Steve Wylie and Steve Gibson, and Rotary Club members. Gone but not forgotten, Reverend Archie and Ora Ryan, Jimmy and Jeanette Bullock, brother-in-law Jan Bullock, Vance Bullock and Verna Mayberry, so many friends and loved ones! We thank each one of you for your love and friendship through the years. Thank you to the doctors who were so good to Archie, and to the wonderful nurses and doctors at The Circle of Life in Bentonville!

A Celebration of Life will be held June 17, 2:00 pm at Holiday Island Presbyterian Church.

Donations may be given to Circle of Life of, 1201 NE Legacy Pkwy, Bentonville, AR 72712. Arrangements under the direction of Nelson Funeral Service. Online condolences may be sent to nelsonfuneral.com. © Nelson Funeral Service, Inc. 2023.