Gerald Wayne Dryden

Gerald Wayne Dryden of Albany, Kentucky passed away peacefully on December 15 at the age of 92. Gerald, affectionally known as Pop to his family, was born in Ada, Oklahoma on October 19, 1933.

Gerald graduated from Bowlegs High School in Bowlegs Oklahoma where he was an All State basketball player. He then attended Bethany Nazarene University, where he also played basketball. While there, he met his first wife, Goldie Ruth Thrasher. After college graduation, they married and moved to Kentucky.

He retired after 39 years of teaching in the state of Kentucky. After a short stent in Breckenridge County where he taught and coached high school basketball, he and Ruth moved to Clinton County, Kentucky. There he taught and also served as the high school baseball coach during the 70s.

For many years, he was a member of Albany First Church of the Nazarene. He served as the Sunday school superintendent and was known to sing and play his accordion at church. Pop loved gospel music and greatly enjoyed attending singing events.

After retiring, Gerald stayed busy building woodcrafts and traveling around the Southeast doing weekend craft shows. Pop loved his family and enjoyed attending sporting events for his three grandchildren. He loved going to the beach and was a big fan of University of Kentucky sports - especially Kentucky basketball. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, and was loved by all.

In 2023 as a widower, Gerald met and married Willie Thrasher.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Willie Thrasher Dryden, his sons and their wives, Dewayne Dryden (Patty) and Don Dryden (Kitty), grandchildren, Brittany Dryden Hammrich (Scott), Will Dryden and Daniel Dryden and great grandchildren Katie Grace, Charlotte and Rhett Hammrich. Also by his sister-in-law Jeanne Sugg (John), James and Jeff and their families. He is also survived by 4 step-children, James (Renee) Thrasher, Danny (Vicky) Thrasher, Barbara (Maurice) Ruble, and Donna (David) Thrasher, along with 12 step-grandchildren and several step-great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Ruth Thrasher Dryden, Birdie Dryden (mother) and Oscar Dryden (father) as well as his step-son, Ronnie Thrasher.

VISITATION WILL BE HELD AT TALBOTT FUNERAL HOME ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2025 FROM 5:00 - 8:00 PM. VISITATION WILL CONTINUE ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025 AT ALBANY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH FROM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. FUNERAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2025 AT ALBANY FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT 12:00 PM.