Family donates scholarship in honor of young brothers who died in plane crash

Ryan and Laura Van Epps were heavily involved in the school community at King’s Ridge Christian School and in the youth sports leagues in which their sons played, friends said after the accident.

“They were part of so many communities within the community,” Patrick Fullerton, a family friend, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “They were loved everywhere they went.”

James Ryan was a rising seventh-grader and Harrison was a rising fifth-grader at King’s Ridge Christian School in Alpharetta. Both are remembered as friendly, well-mannered boys and talented athletes.

Laura and Ryan Van Epps both graduated from Roswell High School. Laura went on to attend the University of Georgia and Ryan attended the University of Tennessee.

Beggs graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in chemical engineering and recently retired after 50 years with the Carl Eric Johnson Company.

A funeral for all five family members is planned for 2 p.m. Friday at Roswell United Methodist Church, the family’s obituary said. A private burial ceremony will be held at a later date at Roswell’s Green Lawn Cemetery, and a celebration of life is planned for October.

In addition to the scholarship in the boys’ honor, the family is asking for donations in Ryan and Laura’s names to North Fulton charities including Angel Flight Soars, Star House, The Drake House and others.

“As we come together to honor the lives of this wonderful family, please feel free to wear bright and cheerful summer colors,” the obituary reads.

Roswell Funeral Home is responsible for the organization.