Norman Reed

Norman was born in Augusta, Michigan to Harold and Frances (Houvener) Reed, one of 11 children. He is survived by his wife of 69 years and 9 months, Alice. Children, Dennis Norman Reed, wife Pam of Michigan, Gregory Eugene Reed, wife Ann of Virginia, Douglas Alan Reed of Texas, Sherri Lynn Reed of Missouri and Erick Nathaniel Reed of Texas. One sister, Salli Pat Nicoletti of California, 6 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. As a child, Norman would go to the airport to watch the airplanes (yes they had airports in the 30's). As soon as he could, he joined the Air Force (Army Air Corp) where he flew the P47 and P38. After an Honorary Discharge, he worked in his Uncle's business, Athens Box and Basket Company, where they produced Michigan veneers for food containers, all the while pursuing his love of airplanes. By 1952, he was flying cargo for General Motor, based in Jackson, Michigan. There he met the love of his life, a pretty young farm girl named Alice. They were married June 6, 1953. Earlier in 1953, he had Joined Lake Central Airlines as a pilot, based in Indianapolis, Indiana. First thing, Norman moved his bride out of his upstairs bachelor apartment into a modern Vagabond mobile home. Between flying, he worked as a new car salesman and for a homebuilder. By now, they had two little ones and wanted more room. They bought one of the homes he had worked on in Plainfield, Indiana. Their 3rd child was born here. Next, Norman was transferred to Cincinnati, Ohio. The airport was in Kentucky, they moved into a home in the country, where the children had the run of the farm land and a little lake. His next transfer was to Washington, DC. They first moved to Great Falls, Virginia near the Potomac River, then looked around and found the ideal spot, six acres on Little Bull Run, overlooking the mountains, next to Manassas battlefield in Catharpin, Virginia. The town consisted of one building, a post office General store. In this beautiful setting their fifth child was born, a darling baby boy, his siblings were now teenagers so he had a lot of "parents" who spoiled him royally. The city of Manassas was close. Here, as in all the places they lived, they were an active part of the community and built lifelong friendships that endure to this day. When Norman started his airline career, Lake Central's fleet were mostly the DC-3, this is what he flew and logged the FAA record for take offs and landings in the DC-3 in domestic scheduled airline service, 30,162! After a name change , a merger and several different and new aircraft, when he retired in 1977 as Captain on the DC -9 it was Allegheny Airline, renamed to USAir, then merged with American Airlines. At retirement, they moved from Virginia to Marble Falls, TX where he immediately started R & L Insulation Company, which he ran very successfully until he sold it in 1984. He then started Zero Energy Products, they built solar hot water collectors for the "Earth Stove" company. Over the years they added other energy saving products, such as glass tinting that they installed all over the hill country. At this time Norman stepped away from the business and left it in the hands of his wife and son. Now he could spend as as much time as he wanted with his first love "airplanes", of which he owned and flew several. Kinner, Luscombe, experimental, ultralights to a race plane that he flew in the Reno and Columbus air races. Norman's devotion was to his Creator and God, Jehovah, which he witnessed about and served all his adult life. At every opportunity he talked about his God and what was in store for us in the future, perfect health (Isaiah 33:24) on a paradise earth (Psalms 37:29) where there would be no more pain, as it says at Revelation chapter 21 and verse 4, "And he (God) will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away." In every congregation where he was a member, he assisted in building their Kingdom Halls, as well as served as a 'servant' in some capacity, now known as ministerial servants & elders. His home was always open to the traveling overseers during their visits. Norman was a devoted husband, a loving father and a good provider, a real family man. He loved people, never met a stranger. When he saw someone who needed help, if it was in his power to help he would. Countless times he would have a tire put on someone’s car or take someone’s car to a shop for a needed repair. Recently an elderly man called Norman from another state. Seems that about 50 years ago this man was not providing for his family. Their house needed some repair. Norman bought lumber and repaired it. The man had eventually started caring for his family, by then Norman had moved away. The man said that before he died he wanted to find Norman and thank him for what he had done for his family. That was what Norman always did, if he saw a need he filled it to the best of his ability. It is hard to keep a good man down. Right up to the last, just eleven days before the end, Norman was up and around in the home he had built 45 years earlier. Sleep well, my love, you earned it! .