Sergeant Bennett “Ryner” Patrick, Jr., 45, of Tifton passed away Thursday, December 3, 2015. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 8, 2015, in the Sanctuary of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with Rev. Jack Perrin and Rev. Jason Jones officiating. Ryner will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday, December 7, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals.
Gene Scarborough, Larry Taylor, Gary Vowell, Rick Brown, Keith Newell, Floyd Cosplich, Justin Pitts and Rob Buckley will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the Tift County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard, the Tri-County Special Response Team and all members of law enforcement in attendance.
Born November 16, 1970 in Tift County, Ryner was the son of Bennett Ryner Patrick, Sr. and Katherine Lunden Patrick of Tifton. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Frances Stafford Wakeman and step-grandfather, Joe Henderson; his paternal grandfather, Robert Winton Patrick, Sr.; his paternal grandmother, Marguerite Ryner Patrick; and mother-in-law, Doris King.
In addition to his parents, Ryner is survived by his loving wife, Kelli King Patrick and four children, Justin Tyler Pitts, Jackson Ryan Pitts, Marguerite “Maggi” Lunden Patrick and Bennett “Bryer” Ryner Patrick, III; an uncle, Charles Lunden; his father-in-law, Billy Gene King; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Kasey and April King; a nephew, Kason King; and his step-grandmother, Louise Willis Patrick.
Ryner was a devoted family man, who loved his wife and children dearly. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Atlantic, Gulf and Steinhatchee, Florida. He loved to camp and hike with his children. He also loved to eat school lunches with them. He was a kind and gentle man with a terrific sense of humor.
He was a proud member of the Tift County Sheriff’s Department. He was an instructor of the C.H.A.M.P.S. Program, where he helped guide children to the right path. He also was a member of the Tift County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard, diving and rescue team, was a firearms instructor, a certified sniper and a 10-year master operator on the Tri-County Special Response Team. He graduated from the Georgia Highway Patrol Special Response Team training course in Augusta. He trained at the Oakridge Nuclear Facility for Homeland Security course. He completed over 3,500 hours of post-approved training.
At Basic Mandate Training, he earned an academic achievement award, qualified expert during firearms portion, was class president and earned overall achievement. He was selected officer of the quarter in 2003 and was selected officer of the year in 2004. He holds intermediate, advanced, supervisory and management certificates through P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer and Training Council). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Science in Public Safety Administration in 2015. He also attended ABAC and the University of Georgia.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Kelli Patrick Love Fund at South Georgia Banking Company, P. O. Box 1505, Tifton, GA 31793.