William Noble Bryant

William Noble Bryant, 76, of Ithaca New York, Son of Grace and Frederick Bryant, Brother to Barbara McChesney, Husband to Virginia Bryant and Father to Sam Bryant, passed away peacefully on December 18th, with his wife at his side.

“Bill” attended Ithaca High School, Manlius School, and graduated from Middlebury College. Upon graduation, Bill was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the United States Army and saw intense combat as a scout pilot with the 1/9A “AirCAV” in Vietnam. Eventually leaving the Army as a Captain, he was awarded The Distinguished Flying Cross, Multiple Bronze Stars (V), and Multiple Air Medals for combat action as helicopter pilot in Vietnam. The Army offered him a spot-promotion to Major and a Harvard Business School Scholarship if he would go back to Vietnam. Bill turned the promotion down, and instead moved his family to a more peaceful life back in his hometown of Ithaca, Ny.

Eventually settling in Trumansburg, Bill owned and operated Ridersport Inc as a motorcycle dealer for 30 years. Bill adored his only son, Sam; If you knew Bill, then you knew he could always be counted on to brag to people about “Sam Stories”, rather than the remarkable things in his own life. Bill was also an avid outdoorsman. His favorite places in the world included Sailing on Cayuga Lake, Riding Motorcycles, and hiking or fly fishing in the Adirondack Mountains. He is preceded in death by His mother and Father, Grace and Fred, and His Sister Barbara McChesney. He is survived by His family: Virginia (wife) , Sam (son), Rebecca (Daughter-in-Law), Keeley, Allyson, Max & Ava (grandchildren), Peter McChesney (Brother-in-Law), Timothy & Barbara Clemens (Brother/Sister-in-Law), and his Nieces and Nephews; Lori, Leslie, Lisa, Peter II, Robin, Chris, Emilie, Rebecca, and Colin.

Services will be held at 1pm on 27th of December, at the First Presbyterian Church in Trumansburg, NY. A Private graveside service will be held at Sampson Veterans Cemetery in Romulus, NY on the 28th of December. Bill suffered from Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s-related Dementia due to heavy exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. He always remained hopeful for a cure in the future. Flowers can be sent to First Presbyterian Church, or in lieu of flowers, the family would ask you consider making a donation in lieu of flowers to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research, P.O. Box 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 -or- online at www.Michaeljfox.org

Thursday, December 27, 2018 1:00 PM

First Presbyterian Church of Ulysses 69 East Main Street Trumansburg, New York 14886