Ryan at Wife's Side at Passing

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 28, 2011 9:00PM

George Ryan and his attorneys cited the declining health of his wife Lura Lynn as the main reason to have his prison sentence commuted and he be freed from prison the past couple of years. The former Illinois governor can take some small comfort in that he was able to be at his wife's side when she passed away last night.

Ryan was granted a six-hour release from the Terre Haute correctional facility where he's been serving his sentence for corruption, and doctors waited until he arrived at his wife's side to remove her from life support. According to former Gov. James Thompson, one of Ryan's attorneys, the gesture "meant the world to him."

Ryan had had four separate releases to be with his wife since January. Lura Lynn Ryan had even made a trip to Terre Haute to be with her husband on their 55th wedding anniversary.

Now, Ryan will have to make another request to attend his wife's funeral.