PRINCETON, Ind. — Francis E. "Frank" Ryan, 78, passed away Friday, May 29, 2009, at his home in Princeton. He was born February 7, 1931, in Hartford, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Olga (Hoduval) Ryan. He had lived in Princeton for the past 12 years, moving here from Warren, Michigan.

Frank enjoyed camping, traveling and playing Clabber. He worked as a sales representative for the Alphabet Company from 1949 until 1996. He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton.

He is survived by his wife, Irene Ryan; 3 daughters and 2 sons, Susan (Alan) Hoefling, Haubstadt, Robert Ryan, Evansville, Thomas Ryan, Evansville, Sharon (Greg) Houchin, Chandler and Diane (Wayne) Barton, Evansville. Also surviving, 1 brother Donald Ryan, Spring Valley, Ill.; 1 sister, Loretta Tucker, Lawrenceville, Ill.; 8 grandchildren, Staci Seibert, Amber Hoefling, Mandy Scherer, Kayla Ryan, Jeremy Samuel, Jennifer Houchin, Greg Houchin Jr. and Melanie Barton; and 4 great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Sierra, Hadlee and Kenlee.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Joseph Ryan, and a daughter-in-law, Aloma Ryan.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 1, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Princeton, with Father Ronald Zgunda and Father Bernie Etienne celebrants. Entombment will be at Alexander Memorial Park in Evansville, Indiana. There will be no visitation and Colvin Funeral Home is handling arrangements.