Richard Allyn Reinert

Richard was born on June 3, 1935 in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to Albert and Evelyn (Huppert) Reinert. He grew up in the Como community of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. After graduating from Lake Geneva High School in 1953, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison earning a B.S. in Horticulture and then a PhD in Plant Pathology in 1962. While at university, he played trombone in the Badger Marching Band and was a leader in the Baptist Student Union where he met his wife, Patricia (Pat) Albrecht. Dick and Pat were married in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 29, 1959. After completing post-doctoral research at the University of Kentucky in 1967, he accepted a position as a plant pathologist with the United States Department of Agriculture -Agricultural Research Service in the Air Quality Research Program in Cincinnati, Ohio beginning his life-long research career on air pollution effects on vegetation. His research team moved to North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC in 1969. He retired in 1998 after 31 years with USDA ARS researching air pollution effects on many types of vegetation including watermelon, snap beans, soybeans, tomatoes, muskmelons, and radishes. He enjoyed collaborating on research projects with colleagues across the US and in Spain and published many scientific research papers in various educational and professional journals.

He was a resident of Cary, NC, and a member of Greenwood Forest Baptist Church where he served in different capacities including serving as deacon, leading in the boys’ mission training program, playing in the orchestra, and serving on various committees . One of the positions he greatly enjoyed was being the chair of the Missions Commission of the church. He loved being involved in missions, advocating for missions, and supporting missionaries. He also enjoyed traveling and through his research and visiting family living around world was able to travel to 48 states and 11 countries on 4 continents.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Reinert.

He is survived by his three children: Karen (Todd) Helm of Winston Salem, NC, Kathy Reinert of Cary, NC, and Kevin (Amie) Reinert of Fuquay Varina, NC. He loved being involved in the lives of his grandchildren and attending their special events as much as he was able. Papa will be greatly missed by them: Patrick Parrish, Kristin (Kyle) Clark, Tiffany (Brian) Robison, Ashley Parrish, Benjamin (Chloe) Helm, Bethany Helm, Esther Helm, Jackson Reinert and Avery Reinert. He also had four great grandchildren who brought him much joy. He is also survived by three sisters: Joan (Allan) Button of St. Paul, MN, Ann Lunde of Ayden, NC and Sally (Larry) Kumbier of Garland, TX as well as many nieces and nephews throughout the US and in England.

During the past few years when he was not able to attend church, he was blessed by the television ministry of Hayes Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on January 9th at 12:30 pm at Greenwood Forest Baptist Church. Visitation and a reception will be held immediately after the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be given in Richard’s memory to Hayes Barton Baptist Church (1800 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27608) to fund three mission service groups that Richard Reinert supported.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the Reinert family.

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