William B. Ryan of Branford died Sept. 15 at the VA Medical Center in West Haven. He was the husband of the late Jeannie Ryan. Mr. Ryan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Feb. 3, 1927, son of the late Dennis W. and Frances Leeper Ryan.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy. He worked as an ironworker for Union Local #424 in New Haven for 39 years, retiring in 1983. He, along with his late wife, was the owner of Jeannie Ryan’s Café in Branford for many years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 83 in Branford, and was a former member of the Umberto Club in New Haven.

Mr. Ryan is survived by his companion of 28 years, Diana Pyle; his daughter Pamela Levatino of New Haven; his son Dennis W. (Marilyn) Ryan of Branford; and 9 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his brothers Dennis and Thomas Ryan, and his sisters Elizabeth Larsen and Bridget Ryan.

His funeral procession left from the W.S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main St., Branford, Sept. 19 for a Mass of Christian burial in St. Mary Church. Burial with military honors followed in St. Agnes Cemetery. Friends called Sept. 18. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. For an online memorial, please visit www.wsclancy.com.