Frederick Logan Reagor Jr.

1943 - 2021

Frederick Logan Reagor, Jr.
September 12, 1943 - September 7, 2021
Benbrook, Texas - The world lost a beautiful soul this week. Frederick Logan Reagor, Jr., 77, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, after a brave battle against a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. He was surrounded by family, lovingly holding his hands.
A vigil will be held Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, 6 to 8 p.m. at Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel, 3100 White Settlement Road in Fort Worth, with a funeral mass scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at Saint Andrew Catholic Church, 3312 Dryden Road in Fort Worth. All are welcome to come. The mass will be live streamed: https://standrewcc.org/live-stream
Fred is described by others as patient, compassionate, witty, humorous, and kind; someone whose company was always enjoyed. People who worked with Fred almost always became fast friends. His wit, intelligence, and creativity shown with soft-spoken kindness and empathy in every encounter drew people to him, and made him everyone's friend.
Fred was born September 12, 1943, in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Frederick Logan Reagor and Emily Loretta Reagor. When he was about 8 months old, his father was killed in WWII. His mother raised him in the welcoming home of his maternal grandparents, near the home of his loving paternal grandparents and uncles. Fred's mother raised him with love and humor. He attended St John's Grade School and High School in Shreveport, graduating from Jesuit High School after a school name change. This warm, family-filled upbringing created the backdrop for the many relationships his friends would cherish throughout his life.
Entering Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Fred soon met the love of his life and soul mate, Mary, at a dance held at Agnes Scott College. After Fred's graduation, they married and lived in Decatur, Georgia, where Fred worked for Lockheed on the C-5 program while Mary finished her undergraduate degree. After a year in Georgia, the young couple moved to Austin, Texas, where they both entered graduate school. After the birth of their first daughter, Heather, who did not survive infancy, they moved to Fort Worth where they remained for another 52 years.
Fred continued his studies at Texas Christian University in math, and Southern Methodist University in computer science. Resuming his aerospace career at General Dynamics, later Lockheed Martin, he taught those subjects, as well as software project management. Over the course of his 30-year career he developed mathematical models of physical, electrical and optical engineering phenomena, with applications to aircraft and ground-based systems. To the amazement of their friends, Fred and Mary worked closely together across many projects, evidence of their deep and abiding love for each other. Sensing the time was right, Fred and Mary retired at the same time to pursue more adventures together, including traveling in western Europe, learning Spanish and enjoying grandchildren. Fred's renewed interest in photography resulted in several awards in local clubs, and his lifelong curiosity found outlets in learning new technologies as they emerged. In addition to teaching math and computer science at Hockaday, robotics at Key School, and tutoring students in math and science, Fred also judged science fairs, robotic teams, and high school photography contests.
His early experiments in a garage laboratory in Shreveport cultivated in Fred a love for science. His enduring interest in ham radio led him to fearlessly climb a tall antenna mast at his grandmother's house to install a new antenna. He loved new technology, and was always happy learning to use new tools, whether attaching an auger to his drill to plant daffodil bulbs or exploring the use of 3D printers and laser engraving machines at the Benbrook Public Library. His desire to innovate and find ways to combine devices in new ways resulted in many inventions, some practical, but always delightful to talk about. He enjoyed sharing the stories as much as the inventions themselves. He always saw the humor in every situation, with a keen eye for the absurd; among friends a single shared word could bring back a funny story, making them both laugh. His love for storytelling made him a marvelous writer and poet.
Fred's family will remember his loving and fun nature, expressed in his encouragement and support of his daughters Mary Kathryn and Ericka, and continued in his grandchildren. Always up for a backyard adventure, a new pet, adventures down to the creek, conversations about science and life, and patient teaching, he expressed a love that was unconditional and eternal. His humor could brighten any situation, and kept us all laughing.
Fred was preceded in death by his daughter, Heather; parents; grandparents; aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his soul mate, best friend and spouse of 55 years, Mary; daughter, Mary Kathryn and husband, Joseph Dunlop of Apex, North Carolina; daughter, Ericka and husband, Zachary Miller of Benbrook, Texas; grandchildren, Elizabeth Dunlop, Logan Dunlop, Ellie Miller and Emily Dunlop; two aunts, Carolyn Butler of Dallas and Shirley Reagor of Houston; and numerous extended family members.
Throughout their lives together, Fred and Mary collected and retained a large garden of "extra family." These are the friends and loved ones who cherish them both, as much as they have been cherished by Fred and Mary. His passing has left an unfillable hole in the hearts of many. We will miss the warmth of his smile and his quick humor for the rest of our lives. Before his death, Fred wished to impart to those who love him, "While death may end my life, it will never end our love."
Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Key School and Key Center for Learning Differences, 3947 E Loop 820 S, Fort Worth, Texas 76119; St. Andrew Catholic School, 3304 Dryden Rd., Fort Worth 76109; the Salvation Army; the Union Gospel Mission; Tarrant Area Food Bank; or a charity of your choice.