James Davenport Rylander, Sr.

Mr. James D. Rylander, Sr., 86, passed away early Monday morning, January 24, 2011, at Magnolia Manor Nursing Center. Graveside services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 27, from Oak Grove Cemetery with Father Don Hutchens and Mother Anne Schnaare officiating. The family will receive friends at the cemetery following the service. Family members request that memorial contributions be sent to Calvary Episcopal Church, 408 South Lee Street, Americus, Georgia 31709. Born February 29, 1924, in Americus, Mr. Rylander was a son of the late John Emory Rylander and Mary Catherine Davenport Rylander. He was a retired engineer with Union Carbide in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Upon the death of his brother, Emory Rylander who started The Tog Shop in Americus, he moved to Americus in 1978 to become involved in the operation of The Tog Shop. Mr. Rylander began studies at Georgia Tech in 1941 but left to join the Army Air Corps in 1942. He served in the Air Corps, flying 110 missions as a fighter pilot and saw combat in Italy and France flying P-40s and P-47s. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and a number of Air Medals. After the end of World War II, he returned to Georgia Tech and graduated as a Mechanical Engineer. He was employed at Minute Maid Corporation for a short time where he met his wife Lillian (Judy) Clements. After leaving Minute Maid he went to work with Pan American Airlines as a DC-4 Service Engineer. In 1957 he left Pan Am and worked with Union Carbide until his retirement in 1978. He is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Catherine and John Brock of Guyton, Georgia, and Deborah and Rick Bruce of Sweetwater, TN; a son and daughter-in-law, James D. Rylander, Jr. and his wife, Lynn, of Allardt, TN; grandchildren Christopher and Tonya Brock of Phoenix, AZ, Laura Brock of Seattle, WA, Sarah Brock of Macon, GA, Melissa Bruce and Jennifer Bruce, both of Sweetwater, TN; and a great granddaughter, Rylie Marie Brock of Phoenix, AZ. His wife, Lillian “Judy” Rylander preceded him in death in 2008. Hancock Funeral Home, 427 South Lee Street, Americus, GA is in charge of arrangements.