Ralph Laverne Bryant was born in Ellinwood, Kansas, on June 4, 1925. Only a few weeks before passing peacefully at Hospice House on September 24, 2020, Ralph was digging the velvety soil in his beautiful garden with his strong, bare hands. He was also dancing the two-step, polkas, and waltzes two days a week at Elmdale Senior Center and the MooseLodge right up to March 15, when the senior centers closed.
Ralph was the son of Alice Viola (Burchart) Bryant and Delbert Walter Bryant of Ellinwood, KS. He had two older brothers (Virgil Marlyn and Clarence Ervin), a younger brother (Lloyd Wayburn) and a younger sister (Deloris Winona). The family farm raised wheat, corn and livestock.
Three months after graduating from high school, he entered the Navy’s V-5 program to be a WWII pilot. He soloed in Boulder, Colorado. He met Lucy Faye Maxwell while stationed in Dallas, Texas. Ralph was Honorably Discharged on May 13, 1946, as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class V-6USNR. Ralph married Lucy Faye on Aug 18, 1947 and was married 63 ½ years. Lucy passed June 18, 2011.
Ralph attended Oklahoma Baptist University for one year where he planned to become a minister. After six years of survival farming in Plevna, and three years serving as a farm hand in Partridge, the family moved to Hutchinson where Ralph was employed for 30 years at Cessna Fluid Power as a Buhr machine operator.
Music has always been important to Ralph. He played the trombone in high school and loved the music of the Grand Ole Opry. After retirement at age 61, Ralph took his first piano lesson. At 88, Ralph completed the requirements for the Associate of Arts degree at Hutchinson Community College with a focus on drafting and music. He graduated May 2014 from HutchCC as their oldest graduate and was given a standing ovation at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, complete with horns blowing. His niece, Dr. Cindy Hoss, Vice President of Academic Affairs, awarded him his certificate and a kiss, which brought a surprise to the audience. In 2017, Ralph established a perpetual endowment at Hutchinson Community College in Lucy’s name. The Lucy Faye Maxwell scholarship is a thank you to the Mennonite community in HarveyCounty, KS. It is specifically designed to support and encourage young women from Harvey County where for 25 years Lucy sold insurance for Bankers Life and Casualty.
Ralph has helped in the community in many ways. For many years, he had picked up day-old bread at Dillon’s every Wednesday and delivered it to the Food Bank. He was instrumental in supporting and leading Boy Scout Troop #317 sponsored by the Community Church of the Brethren. Ralph served on most of the Brethren Church committees, and was especially helpful as a steward. He was the person to call when there was a building problem with Friendship Day-care and Preschool. He helped procure the grand piano at the Community Church of the Brethren and opened the church when there are piano recitals or other musical functions. Ralph and Lucy were also part of the M-2 Program of the Community Church of the Brethren sponsoring three inmates of the Hutchinson Reformatory over the years with visits, letters, and small gifts at Christmas.
Ralph and Lucy had three children, Darlene (and Mark) Manning of Lee Summit, MO; Michael (and Monica) Bryant of Santa Rosa, CA; and Beverly (and Tom) Hoskins of Hesston, KS. He was blessed with six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.Burial will be at 10 a.m. Monday, September 28, 2020, in Memorial Park (aka Rayl's Hill), 5905 West 4th Street, Hutchinson, KS. Friends may sign the book from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorials to the Community Church of the Brethren, where Ralph was a life-long member, or Hospice House, in care of Elliott Mortuary. Please visit www.elliottmortuary.com to leave a condolence for Ralph's family.