Royce Ralph Reynolds

Royce Ralph Reynolds was born on January 23, 1936 in Los Angeles, to his parents Ralph and Jeannette Reynolds. He grew up in the Los Angeles area, attended Brown Military Academy in his youth, and began his high school career at Garfield High School. At the advice of his lifelong friend and best man, Stanley Pritchard, he transferred to Montebello High School to play football, which he did through his senior year, graduating in 1954. He attended Fullerton College for a year before enlisting in the army. He finished his basic training at Fort Ord, California, and was deployed to Korea in July 1955 for a tour of duty through April 18, 1957. Royce worked and resided for the next few years in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. He returned to California, and was fortunate to meet the love of his life, Josephine Poffinbarger Thompson in the year 1962, while she was working in "The Roaring Twenties," a nightclub on La Cienega Blvd in Los Angeles. Royce and Jo married on Saturday, December 1, 1962, and were blessed to share 52 years of marriage. Royce's career mainly included work in construction and insurance. He was owner of Reynolds' Masonry, and subsequently Pacifica Masonry located in Fullerton, California. Later, he was a partner in Medallion Insurance in Anaheim, and the owner of Royce Insurance in Riverside, and then Palm Desert, California. Royce was always an athletic man who enjoyed physical exercise, walking, but most of all, playing golf for his lifetime, an activity that he shared with his family and friends. Royce and his family had a longtime association with friends who enjoyed skiing in their Ski Club. Royce was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia sometime around 1999. His wife, Jo, was his constant caregiver for almost all the remainder of his life. His fight with this disease lasted many years longer than most, a testament to his strength and perseverance; but, he succumbed to this disease on Tuesday, January 6, 2015, at the age of 78. Royce was a man who was a friend to all and loved everyone; he was funny at all times, always ready to laugh, overcome anything, and be positive, no matter what. Royce is survived by his older brother, Jack; his wife, Josephine; son John Thompson and his children Ashley and Codeigh Thompson; his son Royce and his wife Diane, and their children Madeline and Royce Riley Reynolds; son Bryan Reynolds and his wife Laura, and their sons Ryan, Kevyn and Kyle Reynolds. There will be a military service at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518, on Monday, January 19, 2015, beginning promptly at 12:30 PM. Following will be a memorial celebration and reception at Moreno Valley Elks Lodge, 12125 Day Street, Moreno Valley, CA 92557.