William “Bill” King Ryan, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2024 at the age of 80.
Bill was born in Louisville, Kentucky to William M. and Janet H. Ryan. He graduated from Wilmington Friends High School in Delaware. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Lafayette College, and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Bill joined the Exxon Company after graduate school, working in Philadelphia, New York City, Houston, and Japan. He loved his assignment in Japan, learned the language, traveled extensively, and fell in love with the art.
After leaving Exxon, Bill returned to Wilmington where he joined the startup Edgecraft Inc. as Chief Financial Officer.
Bill was an avid hiker with extensive trips to northern Scotland, the Dolomites in Italy, the Grand Canyon, the Presidential Trail in the Appalachian Mountains, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and his bucket list hike in Patagonia. He loved the mountains around Tucson where he hiked 100 miles each year as a member of the Volunteer Foot Patrol. He volunteered weekly for ten years as a gardener at Longwood Gardens and at the Delaware Nature Center. He also prepared tax returns as a volunteer for AARP and Nehemiah Gateway Community in Wilmington. In addition, he loved gourmet cooking and classical music.
He is survived by his devoted wife Susan; two daughters, Tania (Jeff) and Keena; four grandchildren; Claudia, Koryn, Rowan, and Adrienne; and his brother Michael and sister-in-law, Barbara.
Bill was a kind, gentle person, loved by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Delaware Symphony (www.delawaresymphony.org) or the Delaware Nature Society (www.delawarenaturesociety.org).
Services will be held privately.
For online condolences visit: www.mccreryandharra.com
