The “gentlest, happiest and most honest man” was farewelled at his funeral on Friday.

Mr Ryan’s children Eddie and Amy held back the tears as they gave a heartfelt eulogy in front of hundreds of mourners at St Albans.

“He was a strong believer in the benefit of the doubt and he never judged others,” Eddie said.

“Anything he did he gave it all he had and he did it with pride.

“He loved a joke - they were sometimes corny, but he was never sorry for it because as long as you were smiling, it did as it was intended to do.”

One thing ‘Tubby’ did with pride was his work.

Whether it be his 35 years at The Area News or more recently his time at Ultraprint Griffith, he loved every minute of it. “At 21, printing, family, his mates and his motorbike were his life,” daughter Amy said. “In fact dad loved his bike so much that he rode it everywhere, any time and any condition, weather wise or mechanical. That is until one night in 1973, dad was cruising Banna Avenue on his Honda 135 when he pulls up next to a Mini-Minor to say g'day (to someone he thought knew).

“This case of mistaken identity would place our family's history into motion for the car's occupant was an unsuspecting and very surprised 18-year-old Robyn.

“After some embarrassment and a little conversation, Dad asked mum to a party he was attending the next day. Well, I guess you can say that went well.”

A man who was never opposed to a few cold ones and some friendly banter, he had the good fortune of being able to watch his five grandchildren grow.

“In some of his more recent years, he discovered a new form of love,” Amy said.

“This love he experienced when he became a grandfather. As our father, he was everything we needed and so much more. He loved us with everything he had and then some.”