Winston Edward "Ed" Brymer, Jr.

WINSTON EDWARD "ED" BRYMER JR., 84, died Saturday, December 4, 2010 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas with his family at his side. Born in Muskogee, Oklahoma on September 30, 1926, Ed was the eldest child of Winston Edward and Lois Ross Nash Brymer. Ed graduated from Will Rogers High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma and joined the United States Army Air Corp serving as a gunner in a B-17 flight squadron and was stationed in Germany at the end of World War II. Following his military service, Ed attended the University of Illinois where he met his future wife, Phyllis Jean Derrer. Upon graduating from the University of Illinois with a degree in economics, Ed married his college sweetheart Phyllis in 1951 and began a career in the apparel industry. Over the course of his professional career Ed and his family lived in Cincinnati, Chicago, and Dallas before finishing his career in Greensboro, North Carolina where he retired as Vice President of the Menswear Division of Wrangler Western Wear in 1983. Upon retirement, Ed and Phyllis moved to Gilmer, Texas where he began a small marketing venture, WEB Co. and sold real estate. Ed was a competitive tennis player and traveled extensively to many parts of the world. He was active in civic affairs, including the Upshur County Appraisal District Review Board and his long-standing membership the Gilmer Kiwanis Club where he served as President and also as Lieutenant Governor for the Texas Oklahoma District. He was honored with a lifetime Kiwanis membership in recognition of his service to the organization and the many projects to help others. Ed attended First United Method Church of Gilmer where he served in a number of church service roles including Lay Leader and participated in the Faith and Fellowship Sunday School Class and Methodist Men. Additionally, he served on the Investments and Endowments Committee of the Texas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Ed was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Phyllis Jean Derrer Brymer, granddaughter Courtney Elizabeth Brymer, second wife Barbara Johnson Brymer, and his brother Robert Lewis Brymer. Ed was a devoted family man and his family will miss him greatly. Ed is survived by a son Thomas Edward Brymer and wife Christel of Keller, a daughter Julie Kay Brymer Crosby and husband Doug of Dallas, a daughter Peggy Lynn Brymer Little and husband Larry of Richardson, a brother James Patrick Brymer of Los Angeles, CA. a sister, Nancy Nash Brymer Morgan of Jacksonville, FL, and a sister-in-law Natalie Snell Brymer of Louisville, KY, seven grandchildren, Casey Brymer Suh and husband Young, Justin Edward Brymer and wife Julie, Jordan Crosby, Victoria Crosby, Harrison Crosby, Austin Little, and Julianne Little, as well as one great-grandchild, Collin Thomas Suh. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2010 at First United Methodist Church of Gilmer with burial to follow at Sunset Memorial Park under the direction of Croley Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church Gilmer, 105 N. Montgomery, Gilmer, Texas 75644 or the Gilmer Kiwanis Club, P.O. Box 1184, Gilmer, Texas 75644 and are greatly appreciated by the family.