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Ronald Lynn “Ron” Ryan, 73, of Ponca City, passed away on March 26, 2022, surrounded by family and friends. Family and friends are invited to a Celebration of Ron’s life on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Boettcher home, 210 S. 10th Street in Ponca City. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory, 505 W Grand Ave, Ponca City, OK 74601.
Ron was born December 23, 1948, in Wichita, Kansas, to Dee Dee and Richard Lee Ryan, Sr. Ron graduated from Wichita’s North High School and attended Wichita State University. Ron was a lead singer and guitarist for bands in the Wichita area for many years. He also played piano.
Ron loved cars and worked in the car business for most of his life. In the early 1990s, Ron moved to Ponca City to manage a local car dealership. He eventually opened Sun Motors and enjoyed being his own boss for two decades before retiring in 2017. He was a trusted authority on vehicles, particularly pre-owned.
Ron had one daughter, Robyn, whom he loved dearly. She has fond memories of visiting her dad in Ponca City and spending time at his cabin at Lake Ponca. She gave him two beautiful granddaughters who loved their “Papa” very much.
Ron met another Robyn doing what he loved: boating on Lake Ponca. They married on August 31, 2001, in Vail, CO. The mountain retreat became a favorite getaway for many years of their marriage.
Ron also loved hosting his family and friends at Lake Ponca. His generosity and love of taking passengers on boat rides earned him the affectionate nickname, “Captain Ron.” He also enjoyed sharing weekends with friends at Grand Lake.
Ron is preceded in death by his father, Richard Lee Ryan, Sr. and his father-in-law, Fred Boettcher, and sister-in-law Reneé Taylor.
Ron is survived by his wife, Robyn Ryan; mother, Dee Dee Ryan; daughter, Robyn (Tim) Morris; and granddaughters, Madison and Morgan Morris. Also surviving him are his sister, Marilyn (Paul) Garritson; his brother, Rick (Beverly) Ryan; mother-in-law, Suzanne Boettcher; sisters-in-law, Meredith (Perry) Young and Courtney (Edgar) Smith and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his rescue dogs, Boomer and Sooner whom he loved more than he liked to admit.
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Kenneth McMillen
Ronny, as most of us knew him, was one of my very best friends at Pleasant Valley and North High. He was fun, outgoing, never knew a stranger. I was quiet and introverted and Ronny helped me make lots of friends when we started our Sophomore year at North High and throughout our entire time there. He loved to play the guitar and sing. Ronny, Chuck Wasser, and I lived in the Sherwood Glen neighborhood and we spent endless hours together playing backyard football, driveway basketball, and swimming in the Little Arkansas river. Lots of wonderful memories with him. After our High School years were finished, as can easily happen, because of our different interests, we went down different paths in life. His wonderful friendship during those great and fun years will be cherished by me forever. RIP Ronny.
Richard York
I met and became friends with Ron when we attended North High School. He was always chearful and happy, and had a perpetual and sincere smile. You just could not be close to him without the need to smile in return. Being close to him was always a joy. He often rode in my car when we would drag Douglas and cruise. Although he was kind of shy, he quickly fit in with our high school friends and was a delight to be around.
I did a lot of research to try and locate our 1967 graduates (for reunions). Unfortunately, Ron's name was so common that I found dozens and dozens of others with the same name. So, I was unsuccessful at hooking up with him. I had tried to find him later in life and did not realize that he had relocated to Ponca City, OK.
Like many others, our careers took different directions and I'm sorry that I did not stay close to him. Ron was a good friend and will be missed.
Richard York
(Wichita, KS)