Charles Rudolph Bryan

Charles Rudolph Bryan, 85, died Monday, March 31, 2014. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Chapel of Hope Funeral Home. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Friday in Prairie Haven Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Cox Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. Charles was born March 10, 1929, in Carlsbad, N.M., to Ralph and Mabel Bryan. He attended school in Carlsbad and graduated from Carlsbad High School in 1947. He enlisted in the Army on Oct. 26, 1950, serving in the Korean War. Charles worked his way to the rank of first lieutenant and was awarded two Bronze Cross Stars. He was honorably discharged in 1953. He met the love of his life, Jacqueline Hatfield, while serving at Fort Knox in Kentucky. The two of them were married on July 4, 1952, in Fort Hood. She preceded him in death on Dec. 18, 1995, after 43 years of marriage. They were charter members of St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, which later became Trinity Lutheran Church. After his service in the Army, Charles attended University of New Mexico on the G.I. Bill. He managed to accomplish his schooling all while working a full-time job as a grocer and caring for his wife and two children. He was accepted to University of Louisville in Kentucky, where he graduated with a Doctorate of Medical Dentistry in 1960. Throughout all of his challenges in facing his schooling, Charles always remained a dedicated husband and father. Upon his graduation, he and his family moved to Hobbs, where he set up his private dentistry practice. He faithfully served his community as a dentist until his retirement in 1994. Charles went by many names throughout his lifetime. Whether it was Charles, Chuck, Charlie, Dr. Bryan, Doff or Dolph, he never met a stranger and developed relationships with everyone he came in contact with. He always found something in common with people of all walks of life and will always be remembered for his kind heart. He loved to travel, read, watch college football, basketball and Dallas Cowboys and was an avid fisherman and hunter. Those in the Hobbs community will always remember his famous Boone and Crockett mule deer that hung at Gibson's for so many years. Both Dr. and Mrs. Bryan held season tickets for Hobbs Eagles basketball and football. They rarely missed home games and went to most New Mexico State Basketball tournaments and New Mexico State Football championships. Above all, Charles was a great husband, father and grandfather to his family. He taught them to always be kind to others and offer a smile to everyone, because you never knew who needed it most. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jacqueline Bryan; a brother, C.D. Bryan; and a son-in-law, Ben Wasson. Survivors include a son, Mark Bryan and wife Heidi of Roswell, N.M.; three daughters, Sheila Brown and husband Jim of Artesia, N.M., Sandra Gilreath and husband Rick of Grand Prairie and Anita Sue Jenkins and husband Dr. Michael Jenkins of Amarillo; eight grandchildren, Heather Sexton and husband Justin, Jed Wasson and wife Amy, Clay Brown, Clint Brown and wife Jenna, Travis Brown, Christopher Jenkins, Lauren Jenkins and Audra Bryan; five great-grandchildren, Sarah Sexton, Taylor Sexton and Zackary Brown, Brittany Leaverton and Brayden Leaverton; a great-great granddaughter, Briley Leaverton; and a sister, Helen Moore of Atlanta. The family suggests memorials be to Outdoor Adventure Foundation-Texas.