Larry Eugene Ryan

Larry Eugene Ryan, 79, of Auburn, Alabama, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Born in Austinville, Alabama (which has since been incorporated into Decatur), Larry, the eldest of three sons, was born on January 13, 1946, to Louis Eugene Ryan and Mary Ellene Tucker Ryan. In 1958 they moved as a family of five from the family farm at Ryan’s Crossroads near Decatur, AL to the Birmingham area where Larry went to Pittman Junior High and Hueytown High School. He was a three sport athlete, making the Varsity football team as a halfback, Varsity basketball team as a guard, and Varsity baseball team as a left-handed pitcher and first baseman his sophomore year. He graduated in 1964 not only as a star athlete, but also with highest academic honors. This same pursuit of excellence remained with him the rest of his life.

Larry came to his beloved alma mater, Auburn University, in 1964 where he continued to play football under Coach Shug Jordan until he injured his back during his freshman season. He was a proud member the Alpha-Delta chapter of Sigma Pi Fraternity and has remained close to several fraternity brothers until his death. Larry graduated with honors in 1969 with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering. During college he began working for Southern Bell as a CO-OP student to help pay for school and continued working in various divisions of the Bell System including South Central Bell, AT&T, Bell South, Bell South International where he spent a lot of time in England and Argentina; and Bell South Interactive Media Services for the next 40 years while living in Selma, AL; Birmingham, AL; Long Valley, NJ; and Atlanta, GA. During this time he helped to build one of the first computers, received multiple professional awards including Young Engineer of the Year, and represented AT&T while working with Judge Green during the divestiture of the company. He finished out his engineering career at Cox Communications in Atlanta, GA.

Larry combined his passion for learning, brilliant mind, and photographic memory with his love for helping young people by tutoring in math and science, and substitute teaching in both Fulton County, GA and Tallapoosa County, AL even after becoming legally blind in 1998. 

Larry loved the Auburn Tigers. As a season football ticket holder for over 50 years, his kids have all grown up with fond memories of tailgating with family and friends and cheering alongside him. Larry loved his family, so he could also be found at every meet, match, game, concert, and awards ceremony cheering on his kids (and grandkids when possible.) Though injuries and pain slowed him down some in his adult years he did not complain. He loved to laugh and joke, and would focus conversations on others. He enjoyed the water, whether fishing in his younger years, vacationing at the beach while his kids were growing up, or living on Lake Martin during his marriage with Charlotte where they often hosted family and friends.

In addition to his parents, Larry was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte Summerlin Ryan. He is survived by his brothers, Ron (Maudie) Ryan and Jerry (Kathy) Ryan; his daughters, Heather (John) Martin and Holli (Mike) Clements; his son, Robert Brandon Ryan; and his grandchildren Jacob, Joshua, and Abigail Martin; Edie and Charlie Clements; and Teigen, Warren, and Odin Ryan.

Over his lifetime Larry was a faithful follower of Christ, serving and worshipping in a local church wherever he lived. After moving back to Auburn in 2020 he joined Lakeview Baptist Church where a memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, May 31, 2025 with visitation beginning at 1 pm.