Eddie Reed

Eddie H. Reed, age 92 years of Niles, Michigan, husband, father, grandfather, traveler, and regular morning coffee drinker died peacefully at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on September 25, 1929 in Niles to Earl and Lillie May (Vail) Reed, and attended Niles Community Schools.  After a brief tour of duty with the United States Army, Private Eddie Henry Reed was Honorably Discharged as a veteran of the Korean Conflict.  He returned to Niles, and was employed for many years in production at the RACO Manufacturing plant in South Bend, Indiana, a Hubble company.

Eddie enjoyed traveling throughout the Midwest United States and the Appalachian region, going as far south as Florida, and going all the way “up north” to Sault Sainte Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, which became a favorite destination for return trips.  Another favorite journey was to Nashville, Tennessee, including repeat visits to Ryman Auditorium, home of the Grand Ole Opry.

When at home, Eddie made regular, daily visits to the Side Door Café at Martin’s Supermarket to drink coffee around the community table with “the men”.  Many were fellow retirees, some were contractors whose schedule allowed a daily coffee break, and a few were grocery shoppers who noticed the familiar, friendly face and made the time to visit.

On October 23, 1954 in Roseland, Indiana he married the former Allegra E. Grasenack with whom he celebrated just two months ago the remarkable Sixty-seventh Anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Allegra “Aggie” Reed and their children, Edward Reed, Eugene Reed, and Theresa Reed, all of Niles; grandson, Edward Christopher (& Stacy Borr) Reed; great-grandchildren, Evelyn Borr, and Parker Borr; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Florence Sharp, Elmer Reed, Mary Louise Martin, and Frank Reed.

Services for Eddie Reed will be at the Graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Eddie enjoyed life, traveling to see the country and sipping coffee at Martins, but always with friends around the table, or with his family; and those friends and family will miss his faithful companionship.