Charles Edward Reed Jr.

Martinsville, VA – Charles E. (Barney) Reed, Jr., 93, passed away peacefully at his home at Kings Grant Retirement Community in Martinsville, VA, on Feb. 22, 2017. He was born on July 30, 1923, in Martinsville, Va., son of the late Charles E. Reed, Sr. and the late Doris Jane Gregory Reed. He was preceded in death by his wife Billie Stovall Reed, his sister Norma R. Talley, his brothers Alfred G. Reed and E. Nelson Reed.

Surviving are his daughter Cynthia R. Franck (Will), his brother Jan C. Reed (Norma), 2 grandchildren – Jane F. Ronan (Adam) and Ann M. Franck, 1 great-grandchild – Amelia J. Ronan. , and a number of nieces and nephews.

Barney was proud to have served his country in the US Navy during all of WWII, from 1940 until 1946. He was a high-speed code operator, Radioman 2nd Class, on Admiral Turner’s flagship USS Eldorado during the Pacific Theater operations at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After the war, he worked in supervision at DuPont, retiring after 32 years of service.

In 1981, Barney and his wife Billie founded and operated Barney’s Soda Shop in uptown Martinsville. Barney enjoyed a zest for life and was a man of many talents and interests. He built and flew his own airplane, and for many years flew the skies as a private pilot. After his WWII service as a morse-code radio operator, he was an active ham radio operator, communicating with many others in countries around the world. Additionally, he enjoyed making honey as a beekeeper. Barney was a good father, and loved and took good care of his family. He was well-known for his keen sense of humor, his kind nature, and his youthful and adventuresome spirit. He was a member of the First Methodist Church in Martinsville, Martinsville Masonic Lodge, and Patrick Henry Lodge Knights of Pythias.

There will be a graveside service on Monday, Feb. 27th at 1:30pm, at Roselawn Cemetery.

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, Feb.27th at 3:00pm at the Kings Grant Victory Chapel, Rev. Paul Johnson will officiate.

The family will receive friends in the Multi-Purpose room at Kings Grant immediately following the memorial service.

The family greatly appreciates the special care he received from Carol Belcher and the staff at Kings Grant.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to:Kings Grant Fellowship Fund, 350 Kings Way Road, Martinsville, VA 24112

or to any charitable organization.