Gary William “Bill” Bryan of Plano, Texas, passed away December 14, 2018, at the age of 82. He was born on April 24, 1936, to Devereaux Bryan and Elaine (Savage) Bryan in Springfield, Missouri. Bill grew up in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Wichita, Kansas, and he was a 1954 graduate of Wichita East High School. Bill earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1958, and he then married Shirley Ann Clinton on June 13, 1958, in Wichita, Kansas. Bill went on to study at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, where he earned a master’s degree in Theology in 1962. Bill also later received a master’s degree in Psychology from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. He moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1962, where he was Youth Pastor and Associate Pastor at Metropolitan Baptist Church until 1978. In 1978, Bill moved to Dallas, Texas, and became Senior Pastor at Grace Bible Church, where he continued as a faithful member until his passing. In 1985, Bill became the Chaplain at Dallas Theological Seminary and served for thirty years until his retirement in May of 2015. Bill was a lifelong musician, and his love for playing trumpet and singing knew no bounds.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Shirley Ann Bryan of Plano, Texas; and sons, Gary Bryan and his wife, Jennifer, of Plano, Texas, Eric Bryan and his wife, Lauren, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Philip Bryan and his wife, Rebecca, of Richardson, Texas; grandchildren, Max Bryan, Caleb Bryan and his wife, Elizabeth, Zachary Bryan, Chloe Bryan, Abigail Bryan, Mackenzie Bryan, William Bryan, Beatrice Bryan, and Isabella Bryan; great-granddaughter, Isabelle; sisters, Jane Ayoub of Wylie, Texas, and Joy Hatch of Phoenix, Arizona; and a host of other living family and friends.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, Roy Vinyard; son, Joshua Bryan; and sister, Judy Vargas.
The family will receive friends during a visitation on Thursday evening beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 21, 2018, at Grace Bible Church, 11306 Inwood Road, Dallas, Texas 75229. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Dallas Theological Seminary.