Captain Charles W. "Skip" Ryland USN, SC Retired

Captain Charles W. “Skip” Ryland USN, SC Retired, passed away April 17, 2021 at the age of 82 Skip was born in Gulfport, MS on March 8, 1939 to Harry E and Virginia Lucille Ryland. Skip joined the US Navy Reserve while in high school. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in accounting, he was called to Active Duty. After completing Office Candidate School, Skip was sent to the Supply Corp School in Athens, GA after which he was assigned to the LST USS San Joaquin County stationed at the First Marine Air Wing Iwakuni, Japan. Other duty stations included the Second Marine Air Wing in Cherry Point, NC; the USS Pollux in Yokosuka, Japan; the Naval Supply Center in Yokosuka, Japan; the COMNAVAIRLANT in Norfolk, VA. From Norfolk, the Navy sent Skip to Graduate School at George Washington University in Washington DC. After graduation he was sent to the Washington Navy Yard Procurement Office. From there Skip was reassigned as an Aide to the VC&N, a 4 Star Admiral, at the Naval Material Command in Washington DC. His next assignment was as the Supply Officer of the aircraft carrier CV61 USS Ranger which was temporarily at the Navy Shipyard in Bremerton, WA and later based out of Coronado Naval Air Station in Coronado, CA. Upon completion of his final tour at sea, Skip was reassigned as an aide to the VC&N, a 4 Star Admiral, at the Naval Material Command in Washington DC. He then attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC. After completing a year at ICAF, he was sent to NAV AIR in Washington DC as 2nd in Command of the Procurement Office responsible for purchasing aircraft for the US Navy. Skip’s final duty station was at the Naval Oceanographic Office in Bay St. Louis, MS. Skip enjoyed every job performed on behalf of the United States but really felt his time on the USS Ranger was the highlight of his career. During his Naval career Skip received the following medals and ribbons: Navy Achievement, Meritorious Unit, National Defense, 2 – Vietnam Service, Vietnam Campaign, Legion of Merit, and Meritorious Service. After retiring from the US Navy, he became the head of the Mississippi Procurement Office in Gulfport, MS, as well as part owner of the fabric store Classy Coverups. Skip is survived by his wife of 62 years Peggy Anne Parrish Ryland, his 4 children: Leslie R North (late husband Alex), Mark W Ryland, Charles “Greg” Ryland (wife Rhoda), and Jennifer R Achee (husband Curt); his 10 grandchildren: Russell, Tyler, Jacob, Dillon, Patrick, Mitch, Sarah, Josey, Macy and Hallie; his great grandchild: Ryland Rose; and his sister Palma Ryland James. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Warren “Buddy” Ryland and Marlin “Sonny” Ryland, and sisters Ardeth Ryland Bertucci, Willaden Ryland Gans and Carol Ryland Page. The family would like to extend their sincere thanks to the exceptional care givers Lawrence White, Dorothy Barnes, Jose Rodrigues and Patrice Lyes. The family prefers memorial to St. John Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501. Visitation will be Thursday, April 22, 2021 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Rosary will be recited at 5:00 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 23 at 1:00 p.m. at St. John Catholic Church, where friends may visit beginning at noon. A private graveside service will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery with honors by the United States Navy. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Ryland family.