Milton James Ryman Jr. August 16, 1928 – March 23, 2019 Share this obituary Send Sympathy Gifts Upload Photo| Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Leaving behind a legacy of faithfulness, generosity, and gratitude, Milton James Ryman, Jr. passed away at home on Friday, March 23rd, surrounded by his loving wife of nearly 70 years and his three daughters and son in law. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on August 16, 1928, the son of Milton James Ryman, Sr. and Martha Walker Ryman. The Ryman’s moved to Dalton in 1931 when Milton was 3 years old.
Three years later, the family built a house on 100 acres of land on Dug Gap Road, which was considered “in the country” at the time. This would become the Ryman home place for many years, and in time, Ryman Farm. Milton married Mary Manly, his childhood friend and sweetheart, on May 28, 1949.
Together, they raised three daughters in a home filled with joyful laughter, family togetherness, and music. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Caroline Ryman, and his nephew, John Maier. He will be remembered and loved for his kind consideration of others, his devotion to God and family, and the clever “Rymanisms” and nicknames that he bestowed on those he knew best.
He also loved his church family and his church, First United Methodist, where he was active over years teaching Sunday School, singing in the church choir for 24 years, serving as President of the Methodist Men’s Club, being named Methodist District Lay Leader, serving Communion to nursing homes, and delivering Meals on Wheels with Mary until the month before death. He also had a special group of guys with whom he played poker every week. The fun and laughter and togetherness they shared meant very much to him in the most recent years of his life.
Milton was a genuinely sensitive, compassionate man. Those that met him always came away knowing that he was a unique, caring man, who saw the “good” in everyone. He could make someone feel special just in talking to him.
He also adored his wife, Mary, and the two of them were constantly seen together, playing tennis or golf, serving in volunteer positions in their church and community, hosting gatherings with friends and family, and attending and supporting various civic events in Dalton. Many have remarked about their devotion to each other, and Mary truly was his soulmate and the love of his life. Milton attended Dalton High School and graduated in 1945 at age 16, when there were only 11 grades.
He played Catamount football as the quarterback and was co captain of the team his senior year. After high school, he entered Georgia Institute of Technology (where he became an avid Tech fan, which was one his passions for the rest of his life). After graduating from General Motors Institute in 1949, he joined his father, Milton Ryman, Sr., as service manager of Ryman Pontiac Cadillac.
Later, he became the general manager of the dealership on South Dixie Highway and went on to become the president of the Georgia Automobile Dealers Association In 1964. In 1949, he married Mary Ryman, a childhood friend and neighbor, who later became his high school sweetheart. They had 3 daughters, Marti, Maribeth, and Rebecca, who viewed him as their hero and mentor.
He gave up golfing and other hobbies and interests in those early developmental years of his girls’ lives in order to instill family values and a sense of belonging to something greater than one’s self; each of them realized she had a family heritage and a legacy to value and uphold. In addition to spending many nights at home playing badminton, croquet, board games, singing songs along with Mitch Miller, and watching “The Flintstones” and “the Jetsons” together on their 3 channel TV, they enjoyed camping, waterskiing, hiking, and touring historical sites around the south and out West. Milton was very active in the Boy Scouts in Dalton.
After holding the position of Scoutmaster of Troop 60, he was appointed District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America in 1955. In 1962, he served as president of the Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in building Interstate 75 through Dalton as well as forming a committee to research having a junior college in Dalton. He dearly loved his hometown and believed in giving back to his community.
1963, he was given the Dalton Young Man of the Year award by the Jaycees. He was also a member of the Dalton Rotary Club for over 40 years. In his later years, he served on the board of trustees of the Whitfield County Historical Society.
Milton always loved Civil War history and grew up hearing the legend told by his parents that there was a Confederate soldier buried in the front yard of the Ryman home place. In 1993, the remains of a soldier were indeed discovered on the property. Intense research was done by Milton and local historians to successfully determine the identity of the soldier.
In 2002, the soldier’s descendants were invited to come to Dalton for a reburial ceremony on the grounds of the Ryman Farm. TAPS and a Civil War re-enactment were performed as a part of the ceremony. Today a black wrought iron fence surrounds the grave on Ryman Farm as a memorial to the soldier buried there.
Milton made a difference in so many lives. His clever wit and sincere love of others, his giving nature and love of God and family will live on in those he leaves behind. He will be truly missed.
He is survived by his wife, Mary McLellan Manly, and daughters and sons in law, Marti Ryman Pierce, ( Gerald) of Ft Myers, FL. Maribeth Ryman Brown ( Bo) of Atlanta, and Rebecca Ryman Langford ( John) of Saudi Arabia; also nephew, Armin Maier of California, and son in love, Phil Koch, of Gainesville, GA. He also leaves behind 10 loving grandchildren, Kristin Gammons of Yorktown Va.
, Matt Koch, of Gainesville, Ga. , Michael Koch, of St Louis, MO, Jenny Koch of Gainesville, Erich Koch of Ft Myers, Barden Brown, Taylor Brown, Chandler Brown all of Atlanta, John Milton Langford of Lyons, France, and Amanda Langford of Washington DC. In addition, he was privileged to love and enjoy 12 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Dalton on Thursday, March 28th at 1:00 PM. Visitation will be held after the service in the atrium of the church from 2:00-4:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Children’s Fund at Dalton First United Methodist Church, 500 South Thornton Ave.
Dalton. Ga. 30720, to the Whitfield-Murray Historical Society, 715 Chattanooga Ave.
Dalton, Ga. 30720 or the Peeples Cancer Institute at Hamilton Medical Center, 1200 Memorial Dr. Dalton, Ga. 30720 Love Funeral Home, 706-278-3313.
SERVICES Memorial Service Thursday, March 28, 2019 1:00 PM Dalton First United Methodist Church 500 S. Thornton Ave. Dalton, Georgia 30720 Get Directions on Google Maps Visitation Thursday, March 28, 2019 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Dalton First United Methodist Church 500 S. Thornton Ave.
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