Obituary of Ann A. Ryder

Ann A. Ryder, formerly of Mansfield, PA and Southern Pines, NC, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2018 in Montour Falls, NY, at the age of 91. She is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth A. Sanford-Hart (Donald) of Greensboro, NC and Carol S. Gary (Gregory) of Newfield, NY, and three sons, R. Wayne Sanford of Prescott, AZ, William E. Sanford (Jill) of Ft. Collins, CO and Walter T. Sanford (Kathryn) of Houston, TX, three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Loren J. Ryder, in Southern Pines, NC. Ann was born in Williamsport, PA and was the daughter of the late Charles S. Alston and Stella J. Alston. She graduated from Bucknell University in 1947 with a BS in Biology and worked as a Registered Medical Technologist at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Wellsboro, PA, where she met her first husband Dr. Robert S. Sanford (deceased) of Mansfield, PA. While living in Mansfield, Ann was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees of Mansfield University and was elected to two terms on the Board of Education of the Southern Tioga School District. She was a field representative for the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind and initiated the Vision Screening Program for all children entering Kindergarten in the school district. She was also a co-founder of Santa's Gift Bag, a thrift shop that benefited the local school children. Ann was the first woman to serve in the Greater Sullivan Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was an ordained Elder in the Presbyterian Church. She was a past president of the Tioga County Medical Society Auxiliary and coordinated the local Red Cross Blood Donor Program. She was also a member of Chapter D (PA) of the PEO Sisterhood and later Chapter BS (NC). An avid golfer, she was the 1966 Women's Club Champion at Corey Creek Golf Club in Mansfield. After her marriage to Loren J. Ryder in 1978, Ann moved to Southern Pines, NC, where she joined the Pinehurst Country Club and belonged to and served as President, for a two-year term, of the Pinehurst Silver Foils. She was very proud of her Hole-In-One on Pinehurst Course #4 in 1989. That same year she was Club Champion of the Rainmakers at Knollwood Fairways, Southern Pines, NC. A Memorial Service will be held at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 330 S. May St., Southern Pines, NC on November 20, 2018 at 1:00pm, with interment following at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, Southern Pines, NC. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Seneca View Skilled Nursing Facility Activities Fund, c/o Michelle Benjamin, 220 Steuben St., Montour Falls, NY 14865. Arrangements are under the direction of Vedder and Scott Funeral Home, Montour Falls, NY.