Juanita "Nita" Jobe Ryan, 88, of South Pittsburg, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2009 at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga.
She was born July 8, 1921 in Welch, West Virginia to Tom and Della Jobe. She was a majorette at Iager High School in West Virginia and graduated in 1939. She attended and graduated from West Virginia Wesleyan College and worked in Bluefield, West Virginia for several years. She then moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where she lived and worked for 3 years before moving to Jacksonville, Florida. There, she met her future husband, Dr. Gene Ryan. He was a Naval doctor whose ship, the U.S.S. Minos, was stationed in Jacksonville. They were married on February 11, 1945 after having dated for 2 weeks.
Nita was a member of the Hamilton County Medical Auxiliary and a past PTA officer. She was a Girl Scout leader and active with the Boy Scouts while raising her five children. She was an active member of Holly Avenue United Methodist Church where she served as the church librarian for many years and was a member of the United Methodist Women's Organization.
Nita's children and grandchildren say she was the most wonderful "Gran" ever!
She was preceded in death by her parents; her oldest son, Tom; her sister, Marcel Thompson; and her brother, Herschelle Jobe.
Nita is survived by her husband of 64 years, Dr. Eugene M. Ryan; two daughters, Camille (J.D.) Loyd of South Pittsburg and Kathy Ryan of Chattanooga; two sons, Gene Ryan, Jr. of South Pittsburg and Dick Ryan of Chattanooga; three grandchildren, Ryan (Brooke) Loyd of Alabaster, AL, Brett (Sandy) Lomenick of Los Angeles, CA and Laura Lomenick of Chattanooga; one great-granddaughter, Ann Campbell Loyd of Alabaster, AL; several nieces and a nephew.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. CST at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg (note change from Holly Avenue United Methodist Church), with Revs. Bill Cross and Bill Lassiter officiating.
Interment will be in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens in Jasper, TN.
The family will receive friends on Monday, December 21st from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. CST at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 189, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.