Bryan, Calvin Patrick

Longtime Physician In Chattanooga Was Avid Fly Fisherman

  • Saturday, July 11, 2015
Calvin Bryan
Calvin Bryan

Dr. Calvin Patrick Bryan, 68, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee died on Friday July 10, 2015.

“Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phillippians 6:6,7)

These are the words Calvin Bryan lived by, from the moment Jesus became his personal Savior and Lord, to the last breath he took here on earth. They permeated every area of his life and prepared him for his peaceful and confident journey home.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis, Calvin continued his internship and residency there. He then served two years in Ethiopia with the Peace Corps, returning home to Chattanooga to join the medical practice of Dr. Reed Brown. He and Dr. Phil Newton later established their own general medical practice at the foot of Lookout Mountain, where he continued to serve his patients until the last few weeks of his life. 

Calvin and his wife Margaret met at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church 35 years ago and have partnered in ministry ever since, both at home and abroad. In addition to the couple being “fishers of men”, it was said of Calvin that, rather than being a doctor who loved to fly fish, he was a fly fisherman who loved being a doctor!

He also loved being part of a large family: wife, Margaret McGavock Bryan; step-son, David Welsh, his wife Jennifer and their three children, Tait, Connor and Hamilton, of Budapest, Hungary; step-son, Jonathan Welsh and his wife Diana, of Greenville, S.C.; parents, the late William and Josephine Bryan; sister Patricia Bryan-Silver, her son Christian Silver and his wife Brandi; brother, the late Bernard Bryan, his daughter Carrie Puton, her husband Lionel and their children, Jack and Ava of Port Washington, NY; uncle, John Dyer; aunt, Mae Dyer Baker of Madera, CA;  cousin, Mary Jane McKinsey; cousin, David McKinsey; cousin, Sissy Brackett; uncle, the late Charlie Bryan, his wife the late Kathleen Bryan and their daughter Gail; aunt, the late Virginia Edwards; her daughter Janet Helseth, her husband Joe; Janet’s daughter, Lisa Thom and her husband Brian; and Virginia’s son Bryan Harwell, his wife, Pat; their daughter, Sally Williams, her husband Scott and their children, Cadia, Skye, Keegan, Rowan and Sage; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Michael and Elizabeth Darby of Lake Burton, GA.; nieces and nephews, Mary Margaret Cain of Babson Park, FL., Brooke Bishop and her husband Benjamin of Ponte Vedra, FL., Heath Whittle and his wife Aimee of Tiger, GA., and Michael Darby and his wife Christie of Phoenix, AZ., and his eight “greats” of Arizona, Florida and Georgia.

Calvin thoroughly enjoyed working with his loyal, longtime partner and staff at Community Medical Associates; all of whom served him until the very end. They were, in particular, Dr. Phil Newton, Nurse Star Brock, business manager, Rhonda Arnold, office staff manager Loretta Hawkins and Delores Anderson and Tobey Hulgin, part-time staff.

In life, Calvin was a Godly example to all his family members, staff, and his many lifelong friends and patients, yet he was fully prepared to go Home. What a day of rejoicing it must have been for those believing ones who went before, as they welcomed him into Heaven! Also for the many other people who came to know Jesus through the time, energy and financial resources that Calvin invested into the work of God’s Kingdom.

Calvin was loved and respected by everyone who knew him: for his deep love of his Lord, lifelong service to Him and His people, trustworthy and caring practice of medicine, and his knowledge of the Bible. Many people, including his beloved First Baptist Church of Lookout Mountain, turned to him for his clear explanation of Biblical passages. He most recently emphasized prophecy and the end time, which he believed to be near.

His homegoing celebration will be held on Saturday, July 18, at 1 p.m., at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, 316 N. Bragg Avenue, Lookout Mountain, Tn., 37350, with the Reverend Joe Novenson of LMPC and Pastor Jeffrey Jefferson of First Baptist Church of Lookout Mountain officiating.

The family will receive visitors from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m., prior to the service at LMPC. They will also receive visitors the evening before from 5-7 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Lookout Mountain, 205 N. Bragg Avenue, Lookout Mountain, Tn., 37350.

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Lookout Mountain or the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian World Missions Fund.

 

Arrangements are by W.L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia. An online register book may be signed at www.wilsonfuneralhome.com.

 

 

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