David Charles Bryan

David Charles Bryan, age 79, passed away with family by his side on Friday afternoon, November 17, 2023. A memorial service with military honors will be held on Friday, December 15, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. in the chapel of Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut St, Abilene, TX.  The service will be officiated by his nephew, Ross Strader, pastor of Bethel Bible Church South in Tyler, TX.

David was born on December 18, 1943 to Edwin and Mary Bryan.  He was the third born in a family of six children.  David accepted the Lord as his Savior at an early age and was baptized at the Victory Bible Center as a young boy.  One of the greatest influences on his life was his grandmother, Lucy Peters, who lived with the family until her death.  She loved David and talked to him daily about the Lord.

David attended the Bob Jones Academy located on the campus of Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina.  After graduating from the academy he enrolled in Bob Jones University.  Two years later, in 1964, David joined the Air Force.  He was stationed in Germany where he met the love of his life, Margit Poulsen, and her baby girl, Ninna Marie, of Copenhagen, Denmark.  David and Margit were married in Copenhagen and in 1968, when his duty with the Air Force was completed, moved back to the United States settling in Long Island, New York.  They eventually moved back to Abilene and David went into business with his mother, owner of Mary Bryan Draperies.  He added the carpet business to the company.

Over the years, David worked for various companies selling commercial carpet to hospitals, airports, and office buildings. He and Margit lived in Denver, CO, Nashville, TN, and Houston, TX.  After Margit passed away in 2007, David moved back to Abilene. His last employment was with his dear friend Bob Bailey who owned B & L Carpets.

David loved to fly fish and hunt.  One of his favorite hobbies was shooting at the gun range.  He loved music and politics and traveling the western United States.

David is predeceased by his wife, Margit Alice Poulsen Bryan; his parents, Mary and Edwin Bryan; and his brother, Fred Bryan.

David is survived by his daughter Ninna Hogan of Sacramento, CA; two sisters, Mary Sullivan (Scotty) and Martha Rau, and brother John Bryan, all of Abilene; and older brother Jerry Bryan (Val) of Arlington. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.  David was generous, happy, and always ready for an adventure, he will be missed.