Richard Dean “Shorty” Reed, age 66, of Shippenville, passed away Thursday evening, May 8, 2014 at his home.
Born March 27, 1948 in Brookville, he was a son of the late Mac Gerald and Evelyn Beisel Reed.
He was a 1966 graduate of Clarion-Limestone High School and was a veteran of the United States Army, serving from January 1968 to December 1969. He was a Specialist 4, Company B, 97th SIG BN USAREUR, stationed in Germany. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Marksman M-14 and Sharpshooter M-16.
Dick married the former Sally Jordan on March 3, 1983 in the Shippenville Lutheran Church. She survives.
He worked for Glass Containers of Marienville from 1970 until the plant closed in 1982 and in 1983 began working as a Certified Ophthalmic Assistant for the Laurel Eye Clinic in Brookville, retiring in 2000.
In his retirement, Dick enjoyed delivering equipment for Terry W. Kahle of Knox and teaching Hunters Safety courses for the PA Game Commission.
He was proud of being an excellent marksman and enjoyed hunting.
Dick was known for his kindness and generosity and will be missed by his “girls”, Maggie May and Gypsy Rose.
Survivors include his wife, Sally; his twin brother: Robert Reed and wife, Barbara, of Fisher; Brothers: John Reed of Fisher; Dennis “Hip” Reed and his wife, Molly, of Clarion and Mac “Smoke” Reed of California; sister, Patricia Schneider of California; Mother-in-law, Ione Jordan of West Freedom; Three sisters-in-law: Evelyn Reed of New Castle; Kay Caldwell and her husband, Tom, of Parker and Charlotte Callander and her husband, Larry, also of Parker.
Dick is also survived by nine nephews: James II, Jeff, Mike, Dave and Kevin Reed; Dale and Scott Caldwell; Mark Callander and Craig Kerr; Twelve nieces: Jennifer Reed DeLong, Kim Reed Neal, Sherry Hornberger, Shelly Miller, Katie Reed, Christen Schneider, Chelsi Reed, Hanna Reed, Brittney Reed, Debbie Caldwell Bobbert, Lynne Caldwell Sleppy and Mary Callander Rothen.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, James Reed; Father-in-law, Dale Jordan and a special nephew and “The best hunting buddy he ever had”, Michael Callander.
Family and friends will be received from Noon to 2 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, May 11, 2014 at the William N. Rupert Mortuary, Inc., 430 Mendenhall Avenue, Knox.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2014 in the Shippenville United Methodist Church, 123 Main Street, Shippenville, PA, with the Reverend Randy Evans, Clarion/Forest VNA Hospice Chaplain, officiating over the service.
Military honors will be accorded at the beginning of the service by the Berlin-Bowser Post #720 of the American Legion in Knox.
Interment will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Shippenville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be given in the name of Richard Dean Reed to Charitable Deeds and Services, 98 Hickory Nut Lane, Knox, PA 16232 or the Clarion/Forest VNA Hospice, 271 Perkins Road, Clarion, PA 16214, www.cfvna.org
Online condolences may be sent to Dick’s family at www.rupertfuneralhomes.com.