January 6, 2026, 89, Kinston – John Wayne “Johnny” Bryan, Sr., 89, entered into the joy of his salvation while surrounded by his loving family at his home on January 6, 2026. Johnny was born in Lenoir County to the late Preston Blake Bryan and Verda Mae Wade Bryan on November 29, 1936. In addition to his parents, Johnny was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Elizabeth Ann “Pan” Bryan; his brother, Arendall “Ren” Bryan; and an infant granddaughter, Kara Ashley Bryan.
A graduate of the Class of 1954 from Moss Hill High School, Johnny graduated alongside his high school sweetheart, Pan, and the two remained inseparable throughout their lives. After finishing the crops that year, he began working in the grocery business with Caroon’s Grocery and Pak-A-Sak in Kinston before moving to Beaufort in 1966. In 1973, he opened his own business, Crab Point Food Center in Morehead City. Later returning to Kinston after purchasing a Pak-A-Sak store, he owned and operated Grocery Fair from 1974 until 1994, completing a 40-year career in the grocery business.
Never one to sit still, Johnny returned to school after retirement to earn certification in heating and air conditioning and worked an additional 15 years in the trade. Even after his second retirement, he continued to find joy in keeping up his yard, working around the house, and helping friends and family with heating and air needs. True to his character, he was always working and always doing for others.
Johnny loved being on the water, especially water skiing and fishing with his children and grandchildren. A devoted baseball fan, he could watch the game for hours and remained a lifelong Yankees fan from the days of Mickey Mantle, continuing to follow players and statistics with a sharp and curious mind. He cherished family trips and gatherings and proudly took his children to Walt Disney World within the first year of its opening.
A gentle giant, Johnny was a hero to his family. Able to fix what was broken, comfort the hurting, and offer wise and steady advice, he was a man of deep faith that placed his Lord first in his life. Consistent, dependable, and selfless, he always put the needs of others before his own. A generous supporter of Free Will Baptist International Missions, he never counted the cost when helping someone in need, whether family, friend, or stranger. He showed his love in countless practical ways. For his family, you could find him doing anything from washing dishes to building decks or making applesauce with the main objective to always be present when someone needed him.
A service of love and remembrance will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026 at Rouse Funeral Home with his son, Pastor Michael Bryan, officiating. A committal for the family will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park at 1:00 p.m.
Johnny is survived by his children, John Wayne Bryan, Jr. and wife, Susan, Larry Bryan and wife, Kristi, Sherri Bryan Grubbs and husband, Keith, Michael Bryan and wife, Lisa, and Anna Bryan Jones and husband, Eddie; grandchildren, Kyndal Vandiford and husband, Curtis, Denise Paulk and husband, Blake, Dewitt Pope and wife, Catherine, Jennifer Bryan Altom and husband, Derek, Jeffrey Bryan and wife, Kelly, Katie Bryan, Shaun Gray and wife, Sarah, Jessica Harris and husband, Chase, Elizabeth Leiter and husband, Matthew, Adam Grubbs, Blake Bryan and wife, Maggie, Austin Bryan and wife Molly, Michaela Bryan Hill and husband, Noah, Gwyneth Jones and partner, Eli, Morgan Jones, and Evan Jones; great-grandchildren, Lily, Aubrey, Wesley, Claire, Tyshawn, Zoey, Jack, Stephen, Larry, Josiah, Silas, Parker, Ella, Mary Faith, Macon, Hallie Gray, Levi, Shiloh, Juniper, Ruby, Aiden, Lyla, Mary, and Michael; and brother, Preston Bryan and wife, Carol.
The family will receive friends for a time of visitation on Sunday, January 11, 2026 from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Rouse Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.rousefh.com.
Flowers are welcome, or memorial contributions may be made to International Missions (https://iminc.org).
Arrangements are entrusted to Rouse Funeral Home, La Grange.
