Royce Reed

Funeral Services with military honors will be held for Royce Clyde Reed at 2:00 P.M. Wed., March 25, 2009, at Bethel Cemetery located on County Road 1876 South of Odem TX. Reed, 93, went to be with the Lord on Sat., March 21, 2009 at his home near Odem. Services will be under the direction of Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home in Sinton TX.rnRev. Floyd Conner of AR will officiate.rnrnReed was born Sept. 30, 1915, in Skidmore TX to Ezekiel Clyde Reed and Ninon (Williams) Reed. He lived in the Odem area all his life. On December 24, 1937, in Laredo TX, he married Della Gyrene Lewallen. Four daughters were born to that union.rnrnReed attended Odem Public Schools, and obtained his associates degree from Texas A & M ? College Station and was inducted jointly with his wife into the Odem-Edroy ISD Hall of Fame in 2000. Besides his small farming, beef cattle, and goat operation, he worked for the Missouri-Pacific Railroad for several years, was a builder, and was employed by the Odem-Edroy ISD as building trades instructor until his retirement. rnrnDuring WWII, Reed served with the tank destroyers for the U.S. Army in the Philippine Islands. He was a charter and active member of VFW Post 8916 in Odem, later transferring to Mathis TX Post 3079 serving in several capacities including District Commander.rnrnReed became a Christian at an early age and was a member of First Baptist Church of Odem. He enjoyed the outdoors, was always interested in people, and taught the love of reading to all his daughters. He knew every Harry Potter character and looked forward to the publication of each book. His family was high priority in his life.rnrnFor several months he and his wife lived for a time in Seminole OK and daily enjoyed the fellowship at Heritage House Senior Citizens Center.rnrnPreceded in death by his parents, a brother, Terry Jay Reed, and two sons-in-law, Sammy Fuller and John Scarberry, Reed is survived by a large family and many friends. They include his wife of 71 years; 5 daughters and sons-in-law: Della Ninon & Johnny Carson of Wills Point TX, Gyrene & Steve Osgood of Arlington TX, Kay Scarberry of Bowlegs OK, Jan & Charles Vickers of Odem, and Maria de la Cruz of Odem; sister Claire (Reed) Curbello of Showlow AZ, brother-in-law Jesse (Vera) Lewallen of Houston, and sister-in-law Audrey (Lewis) Jenkins of League City TX. His grandchildren are Royce Fowler, Michelle (Kevin) Smith, Laura Poepschke, Paul (Amy) Fuller, Tylene (Bruce)Galinet, Bruce (Jennifer) Osgood, Sandra (Mike)Atyia, Cherry (Terry) Howard, Lt. Col. Benjamin (Sue) Higginbotham, Joseph Higginbotham, and Jan Elizabeth (Leighton) Stovall. His great-grandchildren are Tyler Poepschke, Kayla Poepschke, Conner Smith, Davis Smith, Jake Fuller, Reed Fuller, Bailey Galinet, Decker Galinet, Alexandra Osgood, Georgie Osgood, Parker Osgood, Kyle Atyia, Johnnie (Alison) Atyia, Lee Howard, Victoria (Trent) Goodwin, Angel Howard, Gabriel Howard, Jaydon Howard, Elizabeth Higginbotham, Hannah Higginbotham, Katherin Higginbotham, Jennifer Mokshefsky, Jonathan Higginbotham, Zachary Stovall, Kaleb Stovall, Sarah Elizabeth Stovall. rn rnHis great-great grandchildren are Riley Poetschke, Cooper Atyia, and Breann Goodwin.rnrnPall bearers will be Royce Fowler, Paul Fuller, Benjamin Higginbotham, Joseph Higginbotham, Troy Simon, and Alan Halepaska. Honorary bearers will be members of Mathis VFW Post 3079.rnrnA family visitation will be held Tues. Mar. 24 from 6:00 ? 8:00 P.M.at the Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home, 120 S. McCall, Sinton TX. rnrnThe family wishes to thank Bob, Rosie, Ben, Kathy, and Stephanie and other personnel of Odyssey Hospice and the staff of Ritchea-Gonzales Funeral Home for their loving care and support.rnrn Funeral Information: March 24, 2009, 2:00 AM