Benjamin Ferguson Reed Jr.

Biff was born in Houston on November 1, 1949 to Elizabeth and Benjamin F. Reed, Sr. He grew up in Cottage Grove and graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1968. He married his high school sweetheart, Frances Kominczak, on July 12, 1969. He apprenticed as a plumber and welder through Plumbers Local Union No. 68, where he also taught plumbing and welding for 30 years. He also earned teaching certifications, most notably while taking courses at Purdue University. In 1982, he joined the City of Houston Public Works department, working as an inspector and supervisor. Before he retired from the City in March of 2012, he worked tirelessly on a committee that successfully unionized City of Houston employees, thus helping to improve many lives by providing employees with better wages and benefits. He was not afraid of hard work and always kept the best interests of others in mind.

Biff was a devoted husband and father who enjoyed going on adventures with his family. Not long after getting married, he and Frances raced to the Grand Canyon in their 1971 Camaro and spent time carousing around South Texas border towns. After Steven and Jennifer were born, they pulled a pop-up camper to the Ozarks, throughout the Midwest, and even to Big Bend. They wandered around West Texas and the Hill Country, spent many weekends at Houston County Lake, and saw the wonders of Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.

Biff fished for fun and competition in many of the lakes of East Texas and hunted with friends all over the state, bagging many deer, hogs, and javelina. He helped coach his kids’ Little League teams and cheered them on at soccer and football games. He was an Oilers fan and always enjoyed going to an Astros game. He had a wonderful tenor and was good at plucking a guitar and playing harmonica. He was handy in the garage and could knap a piece of flint into an arrowhead; but he was even more talented in the kitchen, whipping up great meals most nights of the week. He loved looking at and riding trains with his beloved grandsons and watching them play baseball. He was inquisitive and curious about the world and was not afraid to speak his mind. Most important, he wanted the best for his family, and he worked hard to make sure that they were always safe and had everything they needed. Saying that he will be missed is truly an understatement.

Biff is survived by his wife of 52 years, Frances; son Steven and daughter-in-law Cynthia; daughter Jennifer, son-in-law Christopher Bull, and grandsons Hunter and Braden; sister Becky Lunsford; and sister-in-law Barbara Rybarski. He also leaves behind niece Becky and her husband Neil Ottmers; nephew Jeffrey Thibodeaux, his wife Susan, and grandniece Jordan; niece Lisa Rybarski and her partner Billy Anderson; nephew Brian Rybarski, his wife Christi, grandniece Brianna, and grandnephew Weston; niece Laurie, her husband Randy Knippers, and grandnephew Gavin; godson Dirk McWhorter; and numerous relatives and friends. He joins those who left us before him: mother Elizabeth, father Benjamin, and Grandmother Amy Choate; father-in-law Frank Kominczak and mother-in-law Christine; brother-in-law Julian Rybarski; and daughter-in-law Layla Al-Fadel Reed.

The visitation and Rosary will be held at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home, 13102 North Freeway, Houston, Texas 77060, on Friday, April 1, 2022 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm.

The funeral mass will be at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, 3600 Brinkman, Houston, Texas 77018, at 10:00 am with reception to follow immediately.

Pallbearers are Hunter Bull, Braden Bull, Brian Rybarski, Jeffery Thibaudeaux, Dirk McWhorter, Robert Ballard, Billy Anderson, Mike Higgins, and Rey Joblin.

At 12:30 pm, we will process to Resthaven Cemetery for burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the American Kidney Fund.

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