Bill Ryker

Pallbearers for Bill Jared Ryker include Tim Jones, Dustin Bowman, Britton Bowman, John Eichelberger, John Steven Ryker, and Danny Bowman.

William “Bill” Jared Ryker was born on November 23rd, 1940, the son of Harry and Mary Vester (Brown) Ryker. He was raised in a family with three brothers and four sisters, Argus, Versie, May, Doris, Weyman and Eulos. He attended and graduated from Tahlequah High School, then attended Rogers State University. He enlisted in the US Army and served his country as a private first class until his honorable discharge. He retired after approximately 40 years at Lucent Technologies. Bill would tell you his most important job was that of loving son, husband, father and grandfather. On March 4th, 1959, he married his sweetheart and his best friend, Thelma Louise Downing, in Killeen, TX. This union lasted for 58 years until his passing and they were blessed with one daughter, Shannon. Bill retired in 1999 and then began enjoying life at the family cabin on Table Rock Lake. Sitting on the dock fishing and going for boat rides with his love brought him much joy. Weekends would find him taking his best girl, Thelma, out to the Elks Lodge for a little dinner and dancing. He liked to take his grandson Britton to the antique car shows. There were not a lot of cars that Bill could not fix, and any classic sports car would work! He enjoyed attending school functions to watch his little lady Ryker do her activities. Bill loved music and in his younger days, played the drums for Roy Robinson and the Availables and the Dotty Smith Band. He didn’t care if it were country western, easy listening or swing, Bill loved music. He could often be found working away while listening to Ray Charles, Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Elvis and anyone one else in his collection of records. If you ever met Bill, you were taken back by the fact he talked like he had known you his whole life. He was sweet, compassionate and above all else, genuine. There were no strangers in Bill’s world, only friends he hadn’t met yet. He was always chasing after his family with a camera or video camera, capturing the moments of their lives to cherish at a later date. He had two grandchildren, Britton and Ryker, and every chance he had to spend with them was heaven for him. His health began to fail him and Bill remained at home with those he loved and trusted. He passed from this life on September 10th, 2017 at his home in Springdale. He was 76 years old. He will be greatly missed.

Bill is preceded in death by his mother, father, two brothers, Argus and Weyman Ryker and three sisters, Versie Young, May Sanders and Doris Jones and one very special granddaughter, Landry Jean Bowman.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Thelma of the home in Springdale. He leaves one daughter, Shannon Bowman and husband Dustin of Springdale, AR. He is survived by one brother and one sister, Eulos Ryker of Montecito, CA and Iris James of Sapulpa, OK. His legacy and love of life lives on in his grandchildren, Britton Bowman and Ryker Bowman both of the home in Springdale, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and loved ones. The family wishes to thank the caring and compassionate team members of Circle of Life Hospice for all their tender loving care, especially Angie Sandbothe for months of dedicated care and compassion.

The family will be having a Celebration of Life event to be held in Tulsa, Ok. This will be announced at a later date.