Wesley Rylander

Long-time Whittier resident and beloved father, Wesley Wes Rylander, passed away on February 25, 2014 at the age of 89, after suffering complications from Alzheimers disease. He is survived by his daughter, Ruth Rylander, of La Mirada, CA; son, Kent Rylander, of Stanton, CA; sister, Doris Wallstrom of La Caada Flintridge, CA; brother, Marvin Rylander of Rochester, MN; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.



Wes was born and raised in Detroit, MI, to successful Swedish immigrant, builder, insurance man and entrepreneur, John V. Rylander, and his wife, Alma. Wes and his family attended the Salvation Army corps in Detroit, where he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at the age of 14. Wes large family overcame the challenges of the Great Depression during the 1930s. Shortly after graduation from Cooley High School in Detroit, Wes was drafted by the Army in 1943, where he served with the 75th Infantry Division in Europe during WWII, including the Ardennes-Alsace (Battle of the Bulge), Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. After the war, Wes returned home and attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) in East Lansing, majoring in Landscape Architecture. In 1949, allured by the warmer climate, Wes relocated to California. Wes attended Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University) and changed his major, earning a B.A. in Education in 1951. Wes joined the Naval Reserve and was called to active duty in 1951, serving aboard the destroyer, USS Owen, for 18 months during the Korean War. After returning home to Pasadena, Wes found employment as an elementary school teacher with the Gallatin (now part of Downey Unified) School District in 1953, where he taught for 27 years.

In August 1953, Wes was reunited with a high school classmate, Margaret, while attending his sisters wedding in Detroit. Wes and Margaret began a long-distance romance and were married in July 1954 in Detroit where they remained for one year before returning to California. They bought a home in Whittier in 1956 where they continued to live for the next 40 years, and where they raised their two children, Ruth and Kent. It was here that Wes displayed his continuing interest and talent for landscape design, creating a tropical garden paradise in the family backyard. Wes earned an M.A. in Education from Whittier College in 1971 and an M.A. in Christian Education from Talbot Theological Seminary in 1979. Wes and Margaret were active members of Granada Heights Friends Church in La Mirada for over 30 years, where Wes served as an Elder and Sunday School Superintendent, and was involved in the Friendship adult Sunday School class.

After retiring from teaching in 1980, Wes became more involved in traveling and in Christian education projects, serving on the board and as the Administrator of the Greater Los Angeles Sunday School Association (GLASS) (now Christian Ministries Training Association, CMTA), organizing annual conventions and other events. Wes also participated in activities at the denominational level with the Evangelical Friends Church Southwest.

In 1996, Wes and Margaret downsized to a townhome in La Mirada, and he soon retired from Christian ministry. Wes continued his interests in gardening and traveling. He also began volunteer work with veterans causes, and attended reunions with other aging WWII veterans. After Margarets passing in 2002, Wes health began a slow decline. He briefly attended Green Hills Baptist Church in La Habra. In 2010, he relocated his home to Whittier Place Senior Living.

Wes was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Rylander; parents, John and Alma Rylander; brothers, Everett and Lester Rylander; sisters, Eleanore and Mildred Rylander, and Gladys Crismier.

Services for Wes Rylander are scheduled for Monday, March 10. All are welcome to attend the Mortuary Visitation, Graveside Service, and/or Memorial Service.



Visitation on Monday morning, March 10, 9:00am-11:00am at:

White Emerson Mortuary

13304 East Philadelphia Street

Whittier, CA 90601

(562) 698-0304



Graveside Service, to be held at 1:00pm at:

Rose Hills Memorial Park (Near 605 Freeway, at Rose Hills Road)

3888 Workman Mill Road

Whittier, CA 90601

Enter at Main Entrance Gate 1

Ask gate attendant for directions to Graveside Service for Wesley Rylander

Garden of Memories, Grave 3, Lot 2317



Memorial Service, to be held at 2:30pm at:

Granada Heights Friends Church (Main Sanctuary)

11818 La Mirada Boulevard

La Mirada, CA 90638



In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Alzheimers Association in memory of Wesley Rylander, either by calling (800)272-3900, or by donating online at:

http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pxfid=202079&fr_id=1060&pg=fund