Ralph A. Reed

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Ralph A. Reed, 87, of Fort Scott, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 10, 2011, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born July 24, 1923, in Fort Scott, Kan., the son of Pete A. and Blanche M. (Thiebaut) Reed.

He married Betty Mae Lyles June 18, 1944, in Fort Scott, Kan. She survives of the home.

Ralph graduated from Fort Scott High School with the class of 1940. He entered into the U.S. Army during World War II in September of 1944, and was released in July of 1946. He served as a deacon and elder at the First Presbyterian Church, and was a member since 1947, and also served as a county commissioner for the 3rd district. He was a member of the Soil Conservation Service, the Rural Conservation District Board, and was chairman for the Farmers Co-op Board. He also served on the Advisory Board of Directors of the Wichita Bank of Co-ops, was a member of the Bourbon County Board of Realtors, the Kansas Association of Realtors, and the National Association of Realtors. He was also a member of the American Legion and a life member of the VFW.

Ralph retired from farming in 1993 and moved to town. He worked for Stewart Realty from 1990 to 2006, until his health would no longer allow it. He was a long time Fort Scott Tiger and Greyhound fan, loved dairy farming, and was most proud that he sent all of his children through college. He was a loving husband and father.

Survivors include his wife, Betty, of the home; his children, Ralph L. Reed and wife, Barbara, of Fort Scott, John T. Reed and wife, Maggie, of Lenexa, Kan., Kathy Reed and husband, Chuck, of Savonburg, Kan., Mert Barrows and husband, Jim, of Fort Scott; nine grandchildren, Ralph W. Reed, Joseph Reed, Matthew Reed, Blake Reed, Dawn Reed, Nicholas Barrows, Christopher Barrows, Charles Milde and Dona Leon; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Irene Lager; a brother, James C. Reed; and a grandson, Jamie Barrows.

The Rev. Mansour Khajehpour will conduct funeral services 1:30 p.m., Monday, March 14, at the First Presbyterian Church with burial following at the Fort Scott National Cemetery. Military honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post No. 1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Detail. The family will receive friends Sunday, March 12, from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m., at the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, or to Hospice Compassus and left in the care of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall St., P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, KS 66701.

Online condolences may be emailed to expressions@konantz-cheney.com.