Barbara Kirk Ryan

OBITUARY: BARBARA (nee KIRK) RYAN Barbara Kirk Ryan of Wyndmoor and Eagles Mere, PA, died January 23, 2007, after a three-year battle against complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 79 years old. Born on April 15, 1927 in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of the Late Henry Ecroyd Kirk, Jr. and Enid Richardson McCormick. As the eldest child of Henry E. Kirk, Jr. and Enid M. Richardson, Barbara with her sister Louise and their brother Henry E. Kirk, IV enjoyed the special beauty of Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania and the summer activities around the grand hotels, the pristine lake and the endless mountains. Although she lived in the Philadelphia area her adult life, Barbara loved taking her family back to Eagles Mere for summer gatherings, winter weekends and special family events. Starting with Barbara’s great-grandfather through her grandchildren, the Kirk family has been a significant presence in Eagles Mere for six generations. A graduate of the Westtown School (Westtown, Pennsylvania) in 1945 and Endicott Junior College (Beverly, Massachusetts) in 1947 where she was President of the Student Government, Barbara was initially a homemaker raising her family, and then a successful real estate agent with Emlen & Company (now Fox & Roach) in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania. She also found time to be deeply involved in charitable and civic organizations. Barbara was the loyal and adoring partner of her husband Jack, with whom she shared 56 years of devoted marriage. Their four children and their ten grandchildren were Barbara’s pride and joy. She was an avid member of the Colonial Dames of America, The Junior League of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill Hospital and past Chairman of the Main Street Fair, Chestnut Hill Garden Club, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, The Philadelphia Craft Show, a loyal Quaker, a parishioner and volunteer at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chestnut Hill and a regular tour guide for the Cliveden and Andalusia historic homes. She was also a member of the tennis and golf teams at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Barbara was a caring wife, mother, grandmother and loyal friend who thoroughly enjoyed swimming, skating, sailing, golf, tennis, photography and gardening. Barbara Kirk Ryan will best be remembered for her unconditional love for her family, a special gift that she gave to each and every member, including her supportive sister Louise. She leaves in deep sympathy her loving husband, Jack Ryan; her children John E. ‘Jerry’ Ryan, Jr. of Chicago, Ill., Steve Ryan (Janney) of Wayne, PA, Enid Cunningham (Brett) of Kennesaw, GA and Chris Ryan (Amy) of Glenside, PA; 8 grandsons: Pat, Mike, Christian, Stuart, Andy, Kirk, Geoff and Tom; 2 granddaughters: Jennifer and Kelsey; her sister Louise K. Reighard; her brother Henry E. Kirk, IV; and her many loving friends. Family and Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service in her Memory, on Saturday, February 3rd at 1:00 PM at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 22 E Chestnut Hill Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to The Eagles Mere Conservancy, P.O. Box 64 Eagles Mere, PA 17731, or The Westtown School, P.O. Box 1799, Westtown, PA 19395. Funeral arrangements by Helweg Funeral Service, Inc, Jenkintown, Pa. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Kirk Ryan, please visit our flower store.