Robert Dale Reed

(April 4, 1935 – May 25, 2022)

In loving memory of Robert (Bob) Dale Reed who passed away on May 25, 2022 at age 87 at SRMC in Redding, CA.

Bob was born April 6, 1935 to Mary and Roy Reed in Gridley, CA and grew up in the Gridley, Biggs, and Oakland, CA areas. His youth activities included being a farm boy, newspaper boy in Oakland, and in high school he was active in the glee club, drama, basketball, and track. He said in his senior year at Biggs High School “The girls got together and elected me Student Council President.” He graduated in 1953. At his 50 year class reunion, he said his favorite high school memory was the basketball games, and admitted he wished he had worked harder at studying school subjects.

Bob was a summer hire at Libby McNeill & Libby Co, operating canning machinery during the 2 years he attended Yuba College. He graduated in 1955 with an Associate in Arts degree having studied electrical engineering. He worked for three years in Oakland, CA in the electrical field and acquired 5-6 old Model A cars.

Bob joined the Navy in October 1957. After boot camp he was stationed at Point Magu Naval Base, CA. It was a missile test center and he was initially a radar operator controlling the planes and boats in the test area. While in Gridley on a weekend leave he met a younger high school classmate he had known, Janice Ventioner. They began dating on his weekend leaves and they married in Reno, NV in January 1959. By then Bob was placed on temporary duty at Big Sur, CA to evaluate a guidance system for the Regulus II guided missile and they lived in Oxnard, CA. Later, Bob was assigned to the USS Coral Sea. Initially he was on land checking things in after the ship was overhauled. In December they had their first child, Ken, and during Christmas time Bob moved the family to Bremerton Washington at the base.

In February 1960, the USS Coral Sea went out for sea trials followed by an eight month cruise. During this time Jan moved back to the Richvale, CA area to be near family. After the cruise the family lived in Alameda, CA. Jan worked on the Navy base as a secretary and Bob was on the USS Coral Sea doing trial runs before the ship was to leave on its second cruise in late 1961. Bob was scheduled to get out of the service in October but, due to the Berlin Crisis, he was given a six month extension a week before his time was to be completed. While he is on the second cruise a pregnant Jan, and son Ken, returned to Richvale. During his time on the USS Coral Sea, Bob was a Gun Fire Control Technician First Class and his service included being a Petty Officer in charge of using radar with Mark 37 and Mark 56 Gun Fire Control Systems. After 4 1/2 years in the service, Bob departed the Navy having received a Good Conduct Medal and with an Honorable Discharge in April 1962.

Bob began working at Aerojet-General in Sacramento, CA and their second child, Kris, was born in June 1962. In his time at Aerojet, in Sacramento (and later in Nevada) he was an Electrical Test Engineer and his job included working on the development of rocket engines including the Titan II, Apollo, and Transtage engines; and the troubleshooting of gimble systems.

When Bob was laid off during cutbacks he worked at Pacific Telephone and Telegraph and Sacramento Municipal Utility District until rehired in October 1966 by Aerojet to work on the NERVA (Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application) project for space mission applications at the Jackass Flats, Nevada test site. The family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada during this time.

In May 1967 he applied for a Civil Service job and was accepted as an Electronic Technician at the Red Bluff, Ca Air Force Radar Base. In June 1967, Bob and the family went to Biloxi and Gulfsport, Mississippi while Bob was training at Keesler AFB. After training was complete the family moved to Red Bluff, CA. In October 1969, Bob and Jan had their third child, Kevin. When the base was closed in 1970, Bob was transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration and he was with the FAA until he retired.

During the family years in Red Bluff Bob was able to spend time gold dredging and bowling. He loved played games - Cribbage, Tripoly, Pinochle, etc. He enjoyed western shows and always had music on in the house. In 1977 the family built a house Jan designed. She was the idea lady and Bob made it happen.

In 1979, Bob transferred to the Klamath, CA FAA radar and Bob, Jan, and Kevin moved to McKinleyville, CA. While at work Jan discovered a co-worker had a Model A body and parts. Knowing Bob had always regretted his mom selling the old Model A’s he had acquired in his early 20’s they purchased the project car and parts. Bob began obtaining the needed parts, restoring them, and rebuilt the 1929 Model A completing the project in 1983. They joined the local car club and enjoyed participating in parades.

In 1989, Jan passed away from cancer and Bob returned to the Red Bluff area. He continued to work with FAA often training individuals on radar systems and was stationed at Battle Mountain Nevada Radar Base during one winter. He told stories of being taken to work to the top of 9,678’ Mt Lewis in a snowcat while stationed there.

Shortly after Bob retired from the FAA in January 1993, he met Frances Rohrer. They married in May 1993. In the years that followed they lived in the Bend area of Red Bluff, French Gulch, and Redding.

Bob and Fran were able to enjoy retirement and participated in various groups playing Pinochle and other card games, bowling, traveling, and going for drives. Bob was a strong bowler; he missed a perfect 300 in the 10th frame, scoring 285. In retirement Bob was also able to pursue and enjoy gold prospecting. They frequently traveled to out of area mining locations staying in their travel trailer. They also enjoyed introducing their grandchildren to mining when they lived at their home with mining rights in French Gulch, CA. Fran passed away in August 2021. Bob enjoyed going for drives and when he lived alone he continued driving to Burney or going out for ice cream; and he always loved bowling.

Bob is also preceded in death by his parents Mary Reed and Roy Reed, and his step-grandson Nick.

Bob is survived by his children: son Ken (Deb), daughter Kris, and son Kevin; 4 grandchildren: Dale (Lauren) and Cassie (Anthony), Wesley (Alyssa) and Sammi (Adam); and 9 great-grandchildren: Everett, Ellinore, Austin, Hikari, Noah, Aiden, Bradley, Carter, Diana.

Bob is also survived by his step-children: son Bret (Cara), daughter Becky (Ken), son Steve (Nancy), and daughter Ann (Scott): 8 step-grandchildren: Deven (Kelsey) and Maggie, Oscar (Hannah) and Emily (Lars), Eric, and Jacob, Molly and Kate; and 5 step great-grandchildren: Brian, Carson, Allie, Everly, Atlas.

A memorial service will be held June 16, 2022, at 10 am at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Redding.

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