Final Salute

hester A. Ryals -MCRAE – Chester A. Ryals, Jr., 90, died Tuesday, May 14, 2002. Services will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2002 at 11A.M. in the First Baptist Church of McRae. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. -Mr. Ryals, a native of Telfair County, was born on April 9, 1912, to the late Clyde DeLoach and Chester Arthur Ryals. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Horton Ryals and brothers: Henry Clay Ryals and Clyde DeLoach Ryals. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and upon returning to McRae was the Chief Engineer for the Civilian Conservation Corp whose project at the time was the development of the Little Ocmulgee State Park. Mr. Ryals served as an officer in the Navy Seabees during World War II in the South Pacific and as a Lt. Commander at the Pentagon in Washington during the Korean conflict. He returned to McRae and with his brother, Clay Ryals, owned and operated Ryals Drug Store. He served as Mayor of McRae from 1974 through 1985. He was an active Rotarian, Chairman of the Broad of the Merchants and Citizens Bank and a Deacon in the McRae First Baptist Church. -He is survived by several nieces and nephews. -The family will receive friends on Wednesday evening, May 15, 2002, from 7:00 until 9:00P.M. at Vaughn Funeral Home. -In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Baptist Children’s Home, 9420 Blackshear Highway, Baxley, Georgia, 31513 or a charity of choice.

Published by The Telegraph on May 15, 2002.