Bruce Redd

For a guy born on the kitchen table of his parents' flat in the Bottoms, the present-day site of Great American Ball Park, on the day the stock market started crashing in 1929, Bruce L. Redd did quite well for himself.

At the time of his death on March 30, of the age of 81, the Colerain Township resident had excelled at work, at play and at home.

"Dad had his patents from Procter & Gamble framed and mounted on a wall," said Mr. Redd's son, Charles Redd of Harrison.

For 17 years, Mr. Redd coached grade-school football. "He loved working with the kids," he son said, at Assumption School in Mount Healthy.

For his family, "he was a great dad, a good soul who was always there to support us," recalled his son.

"When his kids did stupid things, like wrecking a car, he'd get mad. But he was also very understanding. He knew that life was a lot of work and you have to have fun, too."

Mr. Redd enjoyed the 35 years he spent at P&G. He retired in 1990 from the company's Sharon Woods Technical Center as an expert in the fats and oils in soap. His work on bar soap earned him six patents and took him around the world as a consultant.

"He went to Beijing several times when P&G opened a plant in China. He also went to Singapore, the Ivory Coast, Asia and Hawaii."

The patents Mr. Redd received were for inventions improving P&G's bar soaps.

Charles Redd noted that the inventions and their patents did not make his dad rich. P&G awards patents to the inventors. The company pockets the proceeds. But not the pride.

"Dad admired those patents," said Charles Redd.

"He hung them on the wall of a camp he had in Patriot, Ind. They were a great point of pride for him."

Family represented an even greater point of pride.

"Dad always took time to help people," Charles Redd said.

"He also taught us great lessons that helped us with our children. He would remind me that you can't control everything your children do.

"You have to have faith in them. 'Let them fail at some things,' he would say, 'so they can succeed in life.' "

In addition to his son, Charles, Mr. Redd is survived by his wife of 61 years, Emily Redd.

Additional survivors include his daughter, Regina Redd of Westwood, and sons, Wayne Redd of West Chester and Bruce Redd of Green Township, as well as eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services are private.

Memorials: LaSalle High School, general fund, 3091 North Bend Road, Cincinnati, 45239.

Written by Cliff Radel | cradel@enquirer.com