Poland - Joseph R. Reed, Sr., 91 of Poland, formerly of Highlawn Avenue in Youngstown, died Thursday, July 29, 2010 at his residence.
Mr. Reed was born April 27, 1919 in Philadelphia, PA, son of Jesse and Catherine Yohn Reed.
Mr. Reed enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1938 and served in Hawaii before being honorably discharged in 1941. Three months later, he re-enlisted after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He parachuted into enemy occupied France with C Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, as part of the first wave of the Normandy Invasion. Mr. Reed received a Battlefield Commission as a Second Lieutenant. He also parachuted into enemy occupied Holland as part of Operation Market Garden and was wounded in Combat. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and Bastogne, and also participated in the liberation of the German Concentration Camp at Landsberg, Germany. He participated in the Capture of Hitler's Eagles Nest at Berchtesgaden. He received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Unit Badge, the Arrowhead Medal, the European Service Medal with 4 bronze stars, and the Good Conduct Medal. Mr. Reed was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant, in October of 1945.
Following his discharge, he moved from Philadelphia to Ohio. He worked as a Supervisor for both the Ward Baking Company and Schwebel's Baking Company, retiring in 1985. Mr. Reed was a former member of Foster Memorial United Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed attending his annual Army reunions for C Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, throughout the country. He was a lifesaving instructor for the Youngstown YMCA. He also was a member of the Lowellville Rod and Gun Club, and the Eastern Ohio Conservation Club. He loved to hunt, fish and garden, and enjoyed watching college and pro football.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, the former Katherine Horn whom he married, July 10, 1942, in Phoenix, GA.
He is also survived by five children, Terry (Patricia) Reed of Austintown, Donna (Robert) Skruck of Hubbard, Joseph (Cynthia) Reed Jr. of Boardman, Mark (Patricia) Reed of Columbus; and Cathy (John) Demetra of Poland, one daughter-in-law - Susan (Jack) Rose of Athens, GA; nine grandchildren Terry and Brian Rose, Robert, Todd and Courtney Skruck, Damon, Justin and Tyler Reed, and Max Demetra; and nine great-grandchildren - Taylor, Colette, Cooper, Carter, Camryn, Isabelle, Caralynn, Carmen, and Holden.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by two brothers, Jesse and William Reed, and two sisters, Catherine Lewis and Emily Hoffer.
Per Mr. Reed's request, there will be no calling hours. Arrangements are being handled by the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland.
Contributions may be made in Mr. Reed's name to the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P. O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523.
Condolences may be sent to www.beckerobits.com.