Obituary for Earle R. Ryba
Surrounded by family, Earle R. Ryba was laid to rest at his home on June 2, 2023. He is survived by his wife, Kathy Ryba, and children David Ryba, BethAnn Spackman, Anya Miller, Janos Ryba, and sister Carol Scott. His beloved daughter Beth Maza predeceased him. He enjoyed 8 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.
He was a man of many talents who was active all 88 years of his life. After retiring in 2005, Earle continued as professor emeritus until his passing, thus concluding a 63-year career teaching materials science at Penn State University. His teaching led him many places, including several semesters in China, and years of conferences with the International Center for Diffraction Data (ICDD). During his long tenure, he gained many treasured colleagues and friends and traveled all over the world.
His love of teaching expanded into other areas as well. He taught dog training courses and enjoyed working with the dogs in the family boarding kennel. His beloved German Shepherds were highly trained and treasured members of the family. He was a certified instructor teaching students of all ages with the World Tang Soo Do Association, through which he received a second-degree black belt in 2015. He was dedicated to forest stewardship, working in the Ryba family forest and remained involved with the Kappa Sigma fraternity after joining as an undergraduate student at MIT.
His family will remember him for his love of dogs, horseback riding, reading, skills as an artist and storyteller, and driving his MG Midget with the top down, even in the dead of winter. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and the minds of all those he taught over the years.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1:00pm at the Martha Church Pavilion, 194 Ardery Hollow Road, Port Matilda, PA 16870.
Donations in memory of Earle may be made to the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802.
He was a man of many talents who was active all 88 years of his life. After retiring in 2005, Earle continued as professor emeritus until his passing, thus concluding a 63-year career teaching materials science at Penn State University. His teaching led him many places, including several semesters in China, and years of conferences with the International Center for Diffraction Data (ICDD). During his long tenure, he gained many treasured colleagues and friends and traveled all over the world.
His love of teaching expanded into other areas as well. He taught dog training courses and enjoyed working with the dogs in the family boarding kennel. His beloved German Shepherds were highly trained and treasured members of the family. He was a certified instructor teaching students of all ages with the World Tang Soo Do Association, through which he received a second-degree black belt in 2015. He was dedicated to forest stewardship, working in the Ryba family forest and remained involved with the Kappa Sigma fraternity after joining as an undergraduate student at MIT.
His family will remember him for his love of dogs, horseback riding, reading, skills as an artist and storyteller, and driving his MG Midget with the top down, even in the dead of winter. His memory will live on in the hearts of his family and the minds of all those he taught over the years.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at 1:00pm at the Martha Church Pavilion, 194 Ardery Hollow Road, Port Matilda, PA 16870.
Donations in memory of Earle may be made to the James C. Finley Center for Private Forests at Penn State, 416 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802.