Hiram Leslie Ryan

Hiram Leslie Ryan, age 93, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma passed away Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at his home in Tecumseh.

He was born April 27, 1930 to William Montgomery and Lala (Lambeth) Ryan in Oktaha, Oklahoma.

Hiram was raised in the Newalla/Stella area. He graduated with the class of 1950 from Dunbar High School in Shawnee. He earned his bachelor's degree in Architecture from Langston University with a minor in Industrial Arts.

After high school he joined the U.S. Army and was the first African American in the 655th Engineering Battalion and served in the Korean Conflict at which time he was wounded in combat and received a Purple Heart.  He married Lorene Winrow on September 26, 1953 in Shawnee, Oklahoma.  After service to his country, Hiram and Lorene moved to Langston, Oklahoma and later moved to Oklahoma City before settling in Tecumseh in 1959 where they have been together for 70 years.

Hiram worked at Tinker Air Force Base as a drafter for 28 years until his retirement.  After his retirement he went to work at the Shawnee Police Department as a Community Service Officer and later worked at the Oklahoma Employment Service as Veterans Representative.

Hiram was a founding member of Galilee Baptist Church in Shawnee, where he proudly served as a deacon for over 60 years.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming, taking care of his cows and horses, and community service; he was a true servant.  

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lala Ryan; granddaughter, Alicia Ryan; 2 sisters, Willa Mae Combs and Ruby King; and 3 brothers, Rudolph Ryan, Leonard Ryan and Norvis Ryan.             

Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Lorene Ryan of the home; 1 daughter, Linda Talton of Oklahoma City, OK; 4 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, Harvey and Sonja Ryan of Bethel Acres, OK, Marvin Earnest Ryan of Tecumseh, OK, Nathaniel Eugene Ryan of Tecumseh, OK and Clifford Oliver and  Kimberly Ryan of Irvine, CA; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Doris Ryan of Alexandria, VA and Lucy Ryan of Oklahoma City, OK; and other extended family and friends.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 6, 2023 and continue through service time.  Service will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Sharon Baptist Church in Shawnee with Reverend Anthony Rhone, Galiliee Baptist Church of Shawnee, OK officiating.  Burial will follow at Earlsboro Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.