VIRGINIA BRYAN
Virginia Bryan, age 84, of Temple passed away Aug. 26, 2008. Broecker Funeral Home of Salado is in charge of the arrangements.
A visitation was held for friends and family at the funeral home Sept. 1 with a family celebration of her life at Broecker’s Sept. 2 with burial to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Temple beside James, her husband of almost 60 years.
She was born Patricia Virginia Stroup on October 28, 1923, youngest daughter of Herbert Ainsley Stroup and Ida Belle McKinley Stroup in Tahoka, Texas. She grew up in nearby Brownfield and on November 22, 1942, married her high school sweetheart James Everett Bryan. World War II had begun and James enlisted in the Army. Virginia worked for the Red Cross and was able to work in that capacity at Fort Knox, Kentucky while James was stationed there. She returned to Texas when he was sent to Okinawa, and their first child Patricia Elaine was born in Brownfield while he was overseas. After the war ended and he returned home, a second daughter Constance Sue was born.
Her husband James worked for Texas Pipeline Company at several places in West Texas before the family relocated to Houston in 1953, where he was employed by Texaco. A son, Jonathan Marshall, was born in Houston in 1959. They moved to New Orleans, Louisiana in 1973 and lived there until James retired in 1984. Wanting to return to Texas, they chose Temple as their retirement home and greatly enjoyed the years they shared there until James died in June 2002, just four months shy of their 60th anniversary. After being diagnosed with Alzheimers in late 2002, Virginia lived at Hearthstone Assisted Living and then for the past 2 1/2 years at the home of her devoted caretaker Karen Richman in Hewitt.
Virginia was a member of First Christian Church in Temple, and participated in the Women’s Circle there and also in Kiwanis.
She is survived by her three children, Pat Ash of Tarzana, California, Connie Bryan of Salado, and Jay Bryan and his wife Jo of Richardson, Texas. She leaves behind eight grandchildren: Erin Mallen, Ellie Ash, Andy Klunder and wife Michelle, Mike Klunder and wife Jena, Melissa Klunder, and Jonathan, Jake, and Jacey Bryan. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren: Bela, Jadyn, Sofia, and Judah Klunder and Madelyn and Jackson Mallen.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to her caretaker Karen Richman for her loving care, to all the wonderful people of Hillcrest Hospice, and to Pat and Dave Broecker of Broecker Funeral Home for what they have meant to the family at this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimers Association in her honor at 3429 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin TX 78731.