Robert Bryan, 87, of Prospect and of Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry Township left to be with his divine maker Sunday at UPMC Passavant Cranberry.

Born March 6, 1921, in Prospect, he was the son of John and Elverde Ruby Bryan.

He graduated from Prospect High School in 1939. He then attended Slippery Rock College briefly before serving his country as an Army staff sergeant during World War II in the European Campaign.

In 1946, Bob and his brother Pete started Bryan Brothers' Grocery Store, a Prospect institution, which they operated for 40 years. Shortly after opening the store, they started the Bryan School Bus Line, which grew to a fleet of 50 buses serving several school districts.

He was a lifetime member of The Presbyterian Church of Prospect, where he was an elder and a deacon. He also was a member of the Butler County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited.

Bob's love of family was boundless. His quick wit, keen listening and never judgmental attitude made him a friend of many and enemy of none. Many pleasurable times were spent at Lake Erie, Rockport. Texas, and Chama, N.M., where he and his wife maintained residencies. Bob loved the outdoors and always had his family in tow for his hunting and fishing adventures.

Bob's positive attitude and love of friends will continue to inspire us.

Survivors include his wife, Marion Irene Gray Bryan. They were married June 11, 1948, and were blessed with 60 years of marriage. Also surviving are two sons, Dr. William Jay Bryan and his wife, Sandy, of Houston, Texas, Barry Lynn Bryan and his wife, Diane, of Prospect; two daughters, Mrs. Ray (Colleen) Milligan of Chama and Mrs. David (Janis Lee) Inman of Healdsburg, Calif.; 14 grandchildren, David Robert, Kyle Kessler, Travis, Sarah Ann and Christoper Cody Bryan, Justin Gray and Tyler Charles Bryan, Robert, Bryce, Sally Anne and Sam Bryan Milligan and William Grant, Hannah Marie and Camden Gray Inman; and a great-grandchild, Jax Milligan.

He was preceded in death by six brothers, Curtis, Albert, Willis, Merle "Red," Pete and Jay; and four sisters, Ethel Hasselback, Mary Rose, Mable Shiever and Lucille Gibson.

<B>BRYAN</B> — Friends of Robert Bryan, who died Sunday, May 4, 2008, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the <B>Jay Bryan Funeral Home</B>, 443 Main St., Prospect. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at The Presbyterian Church of Prospect with the Rev. Robert Allison officiating. Burial will be at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Prospect.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Presbyterian Church of Prospect Deacons' Fund.