Obituary of Glenn Leland Ryder, Jr.

Glenn Leland Ryder, Jr. departed this life on June 29, 2018, in Pensacola, FL, at the age of 86. He was born on May 28, 1932, to Glenn Leland Ryder, Sr. and Marian Doris Wilsey Ryder, in Cooperstown, NY. The family lived in Worcester, NY, until Glenn was 12 years old and then they all moved to Scotia, NY. Glenn joined the Air Force, following high school graduation, when he was 18. He was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base, in Denver, CO, where he met and married, the love of his life, Joan Taylor; Nov. 21, 1952. He was stationed in Rapid City, SD and Limestone, ME. He served 4 years, in the Air Force, working as a camera repair specialist, primarily for the B-12 Bomber, during the Korean Conflict. Glenn received an honorable discharge; September 10, 1954. Glenn and Joan moved back to Denver, CO where he worked for Sundstrand Corp and where the first 3, of their 4 children were born. The family moved to Seattle, WA and then to Minot, ND, where Glenn was employed with Boeing Aircraft for a year and a half. He then moved the family to St. Louis, MO, in 1962, where he was employed with McDonnell Aircraft, which later became McDonnell Douglas. He was employed with “MAC”, until his retirement in 1991. The last of their 4 children was born in St. Louis. During Glenn’s employment with McDonnell Douglas, he worked on the F4, F15, F16, F18 and the Apollo Project. He was transferred to Sydney, Australia, in June, 1984, where he and Joan lived for 26 months. During their home leave, in 1985, they traveled around the world, from Sydney to Sydney. Following his retirement, Glenn and Joan did more traveling. Glenn and Joan joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, on Dec. 1, 1956. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, September 15, 1959. They both worked in the St. Louis Temple, with Glenn being a Temple Sealer, for 12 years. The Gospel of Jesus Christ was very important to him, as was his family and he showed that in his day to day life. They moved to Pensacola, FL in July, 2015, to enjoy the warmer weather. Glenn enjoyed visiting the Naval Aviation Museum and watching the Blue Angels fly. He is survived by his wife, Joan Taylor Ryder, of 65 1/2 years; 4 children, Phillip Alan (Jeri) Ryder, James Glenn (Patricia) Ryder, of Pensacola, FL, Judith Ann Ryder Porritt, of Pleasant Grove, UT and Sharon Joan (Gary) Ryder Spaulding, of Canon City, CO; 13 grandchildren, Jeremy (Jennette) Ryder, Jasmine (Eben) Thayer, Heather Cross, Stephanie (Joshua) Jarman, Stephanie Ryder, Nichole (Sherman) Dangerfield, Mike Cross, Daniel Spaulding, Jennifer (Nathaniel) Hardman, Nathan (Cheyenne) Spaulding, Jacob Porritt, Andrew and Oscar Ryder; 11 great-grandchildren, Daniel Cross, Karalyn Jarman, Rayleigh Saucier, Seraphina Ryder, Easten Thayer, Andrew Cross, Cooper Dangerfield, Benjamin Jarman, Adalynn Saucier, Madison Dangerfield and Kyler Hardman; brother, Leon Ryder; sister, Nancy Ryder Passal; brother-in-law, David (Marit) Taylor and nieces and nephews. Glenn was preceded in death by his mother, Marian; father, Glenn; father-in-law, Russell Calvin Taylor; mother-in-law, Ruth Spears Taylor; sister, Carol Ryder; grandson, Joseph (Jo Jo) Leland Ryder; granddaughter, Elizabeth Nichole Spaulding; great-granddaughter, Aurora Heaven Ryder; son-in-law, Curtis Roy Porritt; sister-in-law, Raydene Ryder; brother-in-law, Ralph Calvin Taylor and niece, Nancy Ryder Harris. Glenn was a wonderful Husband, Dad, Father-in-law, Grandpa, Brother, Brother-in-law, Son, Son-in-law, Uncle & friend. He knew no strangers. He befriended others quite quickly. He was a wonderful handyman and could fix anything. He had a sharp mind and a great sense of humor and loved to tell his “Dad Jokes”, as his children called them and his wife called them “groaners”. He told his jokes, with his nostrils flaring, as he tried not to laugh but always ended up laughing. He is loved immensely and greatly missed. Services will be held at 12:00pm, Friday, July 6, 2018, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, 9490 Foxrun Road, Pensacola, Florida. A Committal Service, with military honors, will be held on Monday, July 9, 2018 at 1:30pm, at Barrancas National Cemetery. The procession will meet at Olive Baptist Church/Warrington Campus at 12:45pm at 103 W. Winthrop Avenue, Pensacola, Florida.