Robert "Bob" Reed was born in Tulsa, OK on February 22, 1936 to Virgil and Marie Reed. He passed peacefully at home Monday August 28, 2023. Bob was raised in Tulsa, OK and attended Holy Family High School. He was captain of the football team, homecoming King and graduated in 1953.
Bob joined the United States Marine Corps where he served from 04-Mar-1954 to 03-Mar-1957 reaching the rank of Corporal and receiving an Honorable discharge. He was a veteran of the Korean War and awarded the National Defense Service Medal and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
After leaving the service he roamed around following work on pipelines until a friend persuaded him to go to a job looking for ironworkers. He enjoyed the work and became a member of Ironworkers Local 584 where he retired at the age of 59 after 30 years.
On October 14, 1966 he married Barbara Gayle Greer. They started their family the next year with the birth of son Shannon in October, 1967 and son Jason in August, 1970.
Bob and Barbara enjoyed weekends in the camper deer hunting or at the lake taking out the bass boat for some bass fishing; nights at the sprint car races at Tulsa Speedway; Sunday breakfast with friends and family at the Saratoga; bowling in the weekly bowling leagues; making homemade tamales with Barbara's mother for Christmas dinner. They were married 13 years until Barbara's passing in 1980. Bob continued to work, care for, and raise his two sons. He rose to the challenge and was devoted to attending all functions in which they were involved.
In 1991, Bob started dating Donna Garner (Hutchings). They were married August 5, 2003. They continued Bob's enjoyment of travel and outdoors with trips to Europe and Mexico. He especially liked travelling through Mexico enjoying the sights, the locals, and deep-sea fishing for marlin and sailfish. During one such trip to Mexico in a little tienda in the middle of nowhere (possibly with gunfire going off in the background) he was bound and determined to find the perfect corn husks for his homemade tamales. He did find them and brought them back home.
Bob had a zest for life. He had a smile that would light up a room and his big personality was infectious to all around him. Bob was not one to sit still. He often said he worked more in retirement than when he was working. Such as taking care of multiple rent houses (whether he wanted to or not). He remained active until the end. Whether it was guided trips to Lake Texoma fishing for stripers; drift fishing on his boat lined with fishing poles off the side; going to his dock to catch crappie for dinner; smoking his ribs; grilling steaks; playing weekly golf scrambles; going to monthly breakfast/lunch get-togethers with high school friends; fish frys with the ironworkers. When he would finally sit in his chair with his cats and relax, he had to watch the nightly news for the weather to determine if the next day was for fishing or golfing. He was an avid reader; liked watching old westerns; listening to classic and 80's country music.
Bob was always a devoted and loving father and husband and when his granddaughters Kyndal and Memphis were born he was extremely happy to be a grandpa. He loved them very much and would light up when he was able to be around them or talk to them on the phone. He was very proud of them.
Bob had been diagnosed with aggressive lung cancer before his passing.
He is preceded in death by wife Barbara Reed, his parents Virgil and Marie Reed, brother Virgil, and sisters Virginia, Margaret, Juanita, and Frances.
He is survived by his wife Donna, son Shannon and his wife Stephanie and daughter Kyndal, son Jason and his wife Heather and daughter Memphis and multiple nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Services will be held Wednesday, September 13, 2023 at Holy Family Cathedral at 10:00 am. Followed by a celebration of life gathering at Moore Funeral Home Southlawn Chapel Family Center from 11:30-1:30.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital @ stjude.org