Paul Reed

Paul Arland Reed died Wednesday, April 16, 2008. He was born on November 13, 1925 in Ashton, IL and moved to Amboy, IL where he graduated from Amboy Township High School in 1943. He was preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia Ann in 1967 and by Edith, his wife of 38 years, in 2006. He was the ninth child born to Claude and Evalyn Reed. One sister, Marion DeCourcey, resided in Franklin Grove, IL. After graduating from high school, he was inducted into the U. S. Army and served in the 17th Airborne Division in Europe. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and the Airborne invasion of Germany in 1945. He was awarded the Army Parachute wings, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star and three battle stars. Discharged in 1946, he attended Sacred Heart Seminary in Shelby, Ohio and was ordained a Missionary of the Sacred Heart in 1954. After a brief stint as an instructor, he was nominated as a Missionary to New Guinea. Returning from New Guinea, he settled in Hawaii and was accepted into the U. S. Civil Service and served in Japan, Korea and Fort Lee, VA where he retired in 1987. He resided in Petersburg, VA. He is survived by his son, David and daughter-in-law, Meghan, and son, Jonathan, both from his marriage to Edith. He is also survived by his in-laws, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Crater Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, the 17th Airborne Association and the American Legion. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Sunday, April 20, 2008 at the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, April 21, at Virginia Veterans Cemetery, Amelia, VA. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1117 Ft. Hayes Dr., Petersburg, VA 23805. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .