Glen Edward Reed

Glen Edward Reed, Feb. 28, 1945 – Oct. 27, 2010. "The Second World War was in its final stages on that cold icy February morning in 1945 when Nellie Boyce and John set out for the Bauxite hospital to be blessed with my grand entry into this world." So begins Glen's article about his life for a family genealogy book. It sets the tone. Glen loved a grand entrance, especially his own. Glen Edward Reed of Redington Shores, Fla. died Oct. 27, 2010. He was born in Bauxite, Ark. on Feb. 28, 1945. He graduated from Bauxite High School and entered the University of Arkansas in 1963. He received his degree in Business Administration and CPA designation. He moved with his family to Siloam Springs in 1972 and started his own practice, eventually opening offices in Fayetteville, Ark. and Tampa, Fla. Throughout his life, he worked as an accountant and financial consultant in tax and securities. He is past president of the Arkansas State School Boards, and the Siloam Springs Chamber of Commerce, Board of Education, Public Housing Authority, and Rotary Club. Music was his life-long passion. He began piano lessons as a boy, and his high school years were filled with choral music, band, piano, and performing with a quartet. While in college, he was a member of the University's Schola Contorium and studied voice and piano. He was the director of music for several Baptist and Methodist churches, from college through adulthood. He loved performing – whether as part of a choir, as a soloist, playing for the family, or doing the occasional bar gig. Glen loved to fly airplanes, whether as a charter pilot or simply punching holes in the clouds with his kids for the sheer joy of being in the air. He also found great satisfaction in exploring new interests. He was an avid photographer when his children were young, and has worked as a donut maker, department store manager, water park developer, Caribbean exotic fish farmer, pilot, accountant, telemarketer, and bus driver. Above all, he was never boring. Rather than raising them, he always claimed to be growing up with his children: Kimberly Reynolds and her husband Tom, Katherine Dees and her husband Todd, and J.R. Reed and his wife Leslie. He believed fatherhood was a time of loving and learning and he was immensely proud of the people his children have become. He was Papa to his seven grandchildren, the greatest joys of his life: Lauren, Amber, and Alex Reynolds, Samantha, Zachary, and Austin Dees, and Evan Reed. In addition to his children and grandchildren, Glen is also survived by three sisters: Pauline Bethel, Helen Scott, and Carlena Lambert and her husband Bob, one brother: Dan Reed and his wife Judy, and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service to celebrate his life was held on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Ga.