Richard E. (Dick) Reed, 89, of Elyria, passed away after a long illness on Friday, May 20, 2016 at the Lifecare Center of Elyria. He was born on March 21, 1927 in Sullivan, Ohio to the late Harry and Pauline (nee Park) Reed.
Richard was a 1945 graduate of Wellington High School where he participated in varsity sports and was senior Vice President . After graduation he served his country from 1945-47 as an Army MP with the 1st Allied Occupational Forces in Europe at the conclusion of WWII.
In 1947 he went to work for Bendix Westinghouse in Elyria. He worked mainly as a skilled machinist on the crankshaft line. He was an active UAW member and before retiring he was very instrumental in negotiating a worker friendly benefits contract on behalf of his fellow union members. In 1983, after 36 years of service he retired.
In 1953 he married Beryl Gallatin of Wellington. They had a daughter that same year and in 1960 the family moved to Elyria. They were married for 54 years and had two children, Connie and Scott.
He was an active Mason with the Elyria Masonic Lodge from 1969 on. In 1999 he was given the title "Mason of the Year" for his decades of dedicated service. He enjoyed shooting league archery in the mid 1950's, coached Little League baseball in the late 1960's, and most of all he loved to bowl and did so until last year when he was 88 years old.
Later in life, after retirement, he became caretaker, and gardener at the family property in east central Ohio. He enjoyed mowing with his John Deere riding lawnmower, brush hogging and maintaining the property with an antique Ford tractor. He also organized several of the Wellington Class of '45 reunions and did so until last year when they celebrated their 70th anniversary.
Richard is survived by his children Connie (Tom) Daly of Wellington and Scott (Julie) Reed of Parker, Colorado and three grandchildren, Justin (Jo), Jordan and Seth Daly. He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Beryl (nee Gallatin) Reed, and his siblings William Reed, Louise Hall and Ruth Kerr.
A private family service will be held at a later date. Norton-Eastman Funeral Home, Wellington, has ben entrusted with arrangements and expressions of sympathy may be given online at http://www.norton-eastmanfuneralhome.com./
Cemetery Details
Sullivan Southview Cemetery
Sullivan, OH,