Mr. Olin Wayne Bryant, age 79, of Paducah, Kentucky, died Monday, August 6, 2012, at Western Baptist Hospital after a battle with lung cancer. Olin was born on March 11, 1933, in Magnolia, Mississippi.

He was a graduate of Paducah Tilghman High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1960. He honorably served his country in the Kentucky National Guard as a tank commander rising to the rank of captain.

Olin retired as the general manager of Paducah Power System after 37 years of service, beginning as a distribution engineer. He was well regarded within the electric utility industry, serving on many boards and in advisory roles, specifically the Tennessee Valley Authority, with official visits around the world including China and Russia.

He was a 50-year member of First Baptist Church, sung in the choir for 40 of those years, was ordained as a deacon in 1971 and faithfully served in any role to which he was called. He served as chairman of the Building Committee for both the Children’s Wing and the Great Room assisting in many design elements of the building. He sacrificed his vacation time to travel the world on mission trips beginning in 1962. He taught Sunday School for 15 years and was an integral part of the television ministry.

He was the son of the late Oscar Wayne Bryant and the late Daisy Ghentz Breeland Bryant.

He is survived by his beloved wife to whom he was married in 1955, Joyce (Dunn) Bryant of Paducah, Kentucky; a son, Olin Wayne Bryant Jr. of Lexington, Kentucky; two daughters, Susan Bryant Hughes (Mickey Hughes) and Kelly Bryant Holshouser (Gary Allen Holshouser), all of Paducah, Kentucky; two sisters, Peggy Yvonne Bryant Bullock of Tylertown, Mississippi, and Betty Joe Bryant Bond (Bob Bond) of Paducah; twelve grandchildren, Caroline McCoy Bryant, Russell Olin Paxton Bryant, Gretchen Haynes Bryant, all of Lexington, Kentucky, Lindy Williams Simmons (Ryan Simmons) of Paducah, Kentucky, Bryant Thomas Williams of Bradenton, Florida, Nancy Elise Williams of Louisville, Kentucky, Regina Story (Jeff Story) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Brent Hughes (Debbi Hughes) of Nashville, Tennessee, Madison Paige Holshouser, Gavin Jay Holshouser, Graham Bryant Holshouser, and Whitby Cain Holshouser, all of Paducah, Kentucky; five great-grandchildren, Case Lee Simmons of Paducah, Kentucky, Jordan Lee Batchelor and Hugh Mack Batchelor, both of Yukon, Oklahoma, Virgil Isaac Hughes, and Zavier Hamilton Thomas Hughes of Nashville, Tennessee.

A celebration of the life of Olin Bryant will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Paducah with Rev. Mark Dunn officiating. Burial with military honors at North Ballard Baptist Church Cemetery will follow the service. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening at Milner and Orr Funeral Home of Paducah and will resume after 3 p.m. Thursday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Choir Ministry or Television Ministry, 2890 Broadway, Paducah, KY 42001.

You may leave a message of sympathy or light a memorial candle at www.milnerandorr.com.