Allen Ryan

Penticton — Allen James Ryan, 86, died Thursday, July 20,2017 at the Village by the Station in Penticton after a brief illness

He leaves his wife of 65 years, Margaret (Peggy) Ryan; his sister Margaret (Peggy) Crozier of Regina, and a brother Lance Ryan of Langley; and many close friends.

Born and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the first son of Edgar and Mary Ryan,

In his early years, Mr. Ryan attended school in Prince Albert, and later found a job with the C.P.R. as a telegraph courier.

At age twenty he enlisted in the Canadian Army and became a paratrooper in the P.P.C.L.I. and went overseas to fight in Korea with N.A.T.O. forces. While fighting in Korea he became to have a deep respect for the Salvation Army and how they helped our troops in that cold desolate place.

Upon his return to Canada, he again found employed by the railway this time the C.N.R. for a brief few years. 

He then started work at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert as a Correctional Officer and went off to Kingston, Ontario for some training.  On his return he met, fell in love and married the love of his life Peggy Gooch.

The two joined the Salvation Army and it wasn’t long before they were off to college in Toronto for three years training to become officers in the corps. Then began a whirlwind of postings, to mention a few; Prince Rupert, Red Deer, and Miracle Valley Treatment Center near Mission, and Winnipeg. This deep connection with the good works of the corps continued with them until after their retirement.

Their career path took them both to numerous cities in Western Canada and included; the M2-W2 Organization in New Westminster, Community Liaison Officer at the Provincial Jail in Prince Albert, Addictions Counselling and Court Worker for the Salvation Army in Winnipeg, and at one time he was a salesman for mobile homes in Red Deer.

It seemed they had two passions in life; helping less fortunate people in crisis, and travelling. Both of these they pursued with Christian zeal and joy, and were accomplished at it.  I’m not sure how many times they retired but it was nothing for them to put a hold on their retirement and pick up a fresh challenge to move locations and re-start their endeavours to just plain help others.

A funeral service will held July 29th at the Salvation Army Church in Penticton at 1:00 PM.

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