Carter Jackson Ryburn

Carter Jackson Ryburn

His family celebrates the life of Jack Ryburn who passed away on February 28, 2024 in Abingdon, VA, age 91.

Jack was born in Glade Spring, Virginia in a chestnut log house on top of a hill. He grew up in the fields and hills around Glade Spring, with his parents, three brothers and a sister. He graduated Glade Spring HS class of 1950 and married June Thomas in 1953. He entered the army and served in Korea. After returning home he studied Civil Engineering at Virginia Tech, and began his career in construction, starting with R.E. McKee in Saltville, Va., but then taking him to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Weirton, Houston, Mobile, Baton Rouge, Memphis, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago, Charlottesville, London, Riyadh, and Edinburgh, among other locations. Many of his projects involved the steel-making industry—refurbishing/relining blast furnaces, pelletized iron ore, chlorine caustic units, etc.; other manufacturing plants including -- gasoline refining, detergent alcohol, a brewery; and other large projects.

With all of that travelling, he and June got to settle in Palatine, IL, near Chicago, some years before his retirement when they moved back “home” to Glade Spring and Abingdon, Va. Jack was incredibly intelligent, fun to be around, and ready with a bit of humor or a story steeped in the history of Glade Spring. We’ll miss his lightening of our lives.

Jack is preceded in death by his wife Evelyn “June” Thomas Ryburn; parents Carter White and Emma Leta Dunn Ryburn; and brothers Harry, Doug and Ralph. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Ryburn of Glade Spring, Va. and his nieces and nephews Careen Meadows; Shareen Stone; Joyce Taylor; David Ryburn; Wendy Mark; Corrie Ryburn; Matthew Ryburn; Paul Thomas; Lynette Snyder; Valerie Beck; Andrew Thomas; Timothy Thomas; and Nathan Thomas.

We want to sincerely thank Jack’s caregivers Rick, Debra, Kathy, Angi and Will, who helped make Jack’s final years of life at hope enjoyable ones.

The family will gather for visitation and graveside service, 1pm, Monday, March 4, 2024 at Mount Rose Cemetery, Glade Spring, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions to these causes:

-The Bobby L. King Scholarship, Washington Co. Public Schools, 255 Stanley Street, Abingdon, VA 24210,-or a charity of your choice.

The family of Carter Jackson Ryburn is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory, Main Street location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon VA 276-623-2700.