Edward “Eddie” James Bryan, Jr
(April 27, 1923 – May 1, 2017)
Eddie was born in Iowa City on April 27, 1923. He entered the Army in 1944 and served two years. Sixteen months were in the Pacific War Zone. He was a cryptographer until the war ended. He was then promoted to Sargent, in charge of the 147th Army Airways Communication System Center on Guam. He graduated in 1949 from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He married Clara Williamson in 1957. In 1962, he became a NASA Engineer in Houston. In 1964, he became the NASA Resident Representative at Air Force Plant 3 in Tulsa. He was transferred in 1969 to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center as a Tool Design Supervisor. In 1971, he was selected to be Project Engineer on the Space Shuttle External Tank Program. He became the Manufacturing Engineering Supervisor of the Advanced Solid Rocket Program in 1992. He retired in 1994 at the age of 71. He was a faithful caregiver to his wife in her final years. He was a proud father to his daughters, Julie and Jane, and a loving grandfather to his grandchildren Josh Baker, Bryan Cook, and Laura Cook. Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6th at Berryhill Funeral Home. The Funeral service will be at 12:00 p.m. on May 6th at Berryhill Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Whitesburg Baptist Church Singles Coffeehouse Ministry.
