William Gordon Bryson, 90, died peacefully March 28, 2020, at the Sentara Windermere long term care facility in Virginia Beach. He was born Oct. 10, 1929, in Draper to General W. and Electra Bryson.
He graduated from Draper High School in 1947 and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, in 1952. It is there he met his beautiful and loving wife, Peggy Brown Bryson. They were married for 56 years until her death in July 2009.
He is survived by his daughter, Rebecca B. Proaps, currently living in Virginia Beach; and two grandchildren, Alexandra Bryson Proaps, currently living in Norfolk, and Michael Gordon Proaps, currently living in Chicago, Illinois. He was the last of eight brothers.
Mr. Bryson was a master Mason for more than 60 years in the Snowville Lodge and received his 32 degree and entered the Khedive Shrine in the 1960s.
He went to work with Tidewater Construction Corporation in 1960 as corporate safety director. This was the beginning of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel project. While with TCC for 25 years, he wrote articles that were published in many state and national magazines. One publication, Prestressed Concrete Yard Operations, received the second highest national award for technical papers in the U.S. This publication became a National Safety Council Data Sheet and was distributed over the world by the Prestressed Concrete Institute and the Portland Cement Association.
Mr. Bryson was a certified safety professional and a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers for more than 50 years and one of the charter members of the Greater Tidewater Chapter of ASSE. He served for 17 years on the State Safety Health Codes Board under four state governors and was chairman of this board for 13 years.
The family expresses thanks to the staff of Sentara Windermere for their dedication to his well being.
Mr. Bryson will be laid to rest in a private service with arrangements handled by Hollomon-Brown, Great Neck Chapel.
To share a memory or message of condolences, please visit the family’s Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, we want to support first responders and healthcare workers who are working the front lines to save lives every day. Memorial donations may be made to Direct Relief.
