Charles Ryrie dies

Charles C. Ryrie Tribute [LINK]

Dr. Charles Caldwell Ryrie (b. 1925) has died only weeks before his ninety-first birthday. Dr. Ryrie taught Systematic Theology at Dallas Theological Seminary before serving as dean of doctoral studies for more than two decades until his retirement in 1983.

Charles Ryrie was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Alton, Illinois. He attended First Baptist Church of Alton, where he was the fifth generation of his family there. Ryrie was also valedictorian of Alton High School, where he played the piano for his own commencement in January 1942, a mere six weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Leaving Alton to attend Stony Brook School on Long Island, Ryrie studied with noted evangelical educator Frank E. Gaebelein. Ryrie then entered Haverford College with the intention of studying math and music and the expectation that he would follow his father into banking. But before long, Ryrie left Haverford to attend DTS.