Charles Thrasher Bryan's Obituary
Charles Thrasher Bryan, 87, passed away on September 28th, 2024 from complications of a long battle with Dementia.
Charles was born on January 6th, 1937 in Montgomery, Alabama to the late William and Mable Bryan. When he was 3 years old his parents relocated the family to Benavides, Texas. He was on the tennis team and in ROTC and graduated Salutatorian from Benavides High School in 1955. Charles attended Texas A&I University in Kingsville, Texas, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering. He roughnecked on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to work his way through college. While at Texas A&I, he was a member of the ROTC King’s Guard and Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. He was named A&I’s 1957 Who’s Who in American Colleges and served on the Student Governing Board. It was during this time that he would meet his love, Myrna Kay McGregor. They married on August 29th, 1959 and were married for 65 years. He graduated in 1960, the same year his son Steven was born. Three years later, his daughter Jami Lynne completed the family. Charles served in the National Guard for 2 years after college.
In 1966, Charles moved the family to Dallas, Texas. He took a position at Comtech as a senior engineering analyst, responsible for computer applications in petroleum engineering. He became President of Comtech in 1968, serving in this role until 1984 when Comtech merged with DeGolyer & McNaughton (D&M), a worldwide oil and gas consulting firm. He would remain at D&M for the rest of his petroleum engineering career. He was made Executive Vice President in 1996 and elevated to CEO and President in 1999. He retired in February 2002. His engineering career spanned 40+ years and took him to countries across the globe -- China, Russia, Algeria, Norway, Peru, Venezuela, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Qatar, just to name a few. A year before his retirement, Charles bought an 800+ acre property in Hamilton, Texas called the Cowhouse Creek Ranch. He enjoyed being a “weekend rancher” and spending his days there with family and friends.
Charles was passionate about three things: his family, golf, and travel. His love for golf traveled with him and he enjoyed playing courses all over the country and the world, including the legendary Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland and Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. He participated in countless golf tournaments. He shared his love for travel with Myrna Kay, his children, and his grandchildren, taking them on numerous vacations. Charles and Myrna Kay also shared a passion for cruises and cruised all over the world, often with close friends. They share countless memories of their adventures together. Charles was a loyal husband, a loving father and Papaw, and an inspiring mentor to many.
Charles Bryan is survived by his wife of 65 years, Myrna Kay Bryan; his son Steven Bryan and his wife Twila, and his daughter Jami Shaban and her husband David; two grandchildren, Bryan Shaban and his wife Kelsey, and Brittany Shaban; two great-grandchildren, Isaac and Cyrus Shaban. He is also survived by his brother, Jackie Bryan and his sister, Cynthia Ferguson.
Visitation with family will be held on Sunday, October 6th at 1pm followed immediately by funeral service at 2pm in the Wildwood Chapel at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave. in Dallas, Texas.
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