Biography: Donald Sanford Ryan was a truly good man with a heart as big as his eyebrows. Born on July 9, 1934 in Little Rock to John and Fay Ryan, he grew up in North Little Rock in what is known once again as Argenta. He passed away on January 3, 2016 peacefully after an extended battle with Parkinson's Disease. He joins his parents and brother Jack who passed before him, as well as his wife Joyce Ryan and eldest son William. He leaves behind his son Thomas S. Ryan of Birmingham, Alabama and Catherine Ryan formerly of Boston, Massachusetts, along with lifelong friends and colleagues with whom he gladly shared his days. He was a devoted son, husband, father and friend. Don never learned to play golf because he grew up left-handed, so he spent his free time fishing. A musician for most of his life, Don played the piano in a jazz band as a teenager while attending Old Main, possibly using the school's instruments, and continued to play in bands during college. He was a patron of the Arkansas Symphony for many years and at age 65 he took up playing the cello. He has an extensive harmonica collection but never played professionally. In high school Don was in ROTC, later serving as a Captain in the Army and taught at Culver Military Academy. Don attended Arkansas Tech in Russellville before going to law school in Fayetteville. He was honored to have practiced law in Little Rock for over fifty years. He was a partner at Dodds, Kidd and Ryan, a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and American Board of Trial Advocates. He was a true trial attorney who felt honor-bound to help people in need. Although he had a great sense of humor, he did not find lawyer jokes the least bit funny. A visitation will be held Wednesday, January 6, 2016 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home. The funeral will be Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 1 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home followed by burial at Forest Hills Memorial Park. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com