BERKLEY REED
Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 8, 2009
WHEELERSURG — Berkley A. Reed, 90, of Wheelersburg, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, at the SOMC Hospice Center in Portsmouth.
The Lawrence County, Ohio native was born Oct. 2, 1919, the son of the late Cecil and Bertha Kingrey Reed in Kitts Hill, Ohio, one of eight children. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary E. Justice Reed, whom he married Dec. 14, 1942, and was married to for 66 years.
Berkley was a retired truck driver of 44 years and worked many of those for Reinhardt Trucking in Wheelersburg as a driver and a dispatcher. He was a veteran of World War II where he served his country as a staff sergeant in the Ranger Infantry Co. F 6th Battalion in New Guinea, Luzon and the Southern Philippines. He was a member of F. & A.M. Scottish Rite and had achieved the rank of 32nd degree mason. He was also a member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death by three brothers, Leslie Reed, Fred Reed, and Clarence Reed and a sister, Marie Drummond.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Johnny Smith of Wheelersburg; a son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Faith Reed of Mt. Perry; three granddaughters, Krystal and Brian Knapp of Wheelersburg, Cheyenne Smith of Wheelersburg, and Carsie Reed of Mt. Perry; a grandson, Nicholas Berkley Reed of Mt. Perry; a great grandson, Gabriel Levi Reed Knapp of Wheelersburg, all of whom he loved dearly; three sisters, Juanita (Walter) Murnahan of Ocala, Fla., Ruth Murnahan and Verna (Alvin Jr.) Harper both of Kitts Hill and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Phillips Funeral Home with his nephew, Randy Harper, and Pastor Ryan McKee officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites. Friends may call 5- 9 p.m. Friday and after 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Donations can be made in memory of Berkley to the SOMC Hospice, 2201 25th Street, Portsmouth, Ohio 45662. To offer condolences to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.