Clarence Reed

Family-Placed Obituary

REED, Clarence Russell 78, of Saint Paris, passed away Sunday, January 2, 2005 at 12:51 a.m. in Mercy Medical Center, Springfield. He was born in Clark County, Ohio on December 1, 1926, the son of the late Clarence Clay and Ruth Ellen (Evilsizor) Reed. Russell was a 1947 graduate of Saint Paris High School and served with the United States Army during World War II. He retired in 1988 from Hobart Brothers in Troy. Mr. Reed attended the Saint Paris United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Keith Cretors Post 148, American Legion, of Saint Paris; the Fletcher Lions Club; and a former member of the Saint Paris Fire Department. On February 28, 1969, Russell married Orpha (Hartzler) Lantz. She survives along with one son, Charles (Donna) Reed of Corinth, Kentucky; two daughters, Debra (Louis) Boyd of Saint Paris and Carole (Larry) Gehrlich of Wapakoneta; two step-sons, James (Susan) Lantz of Troy and Charles (Mary) Lantz of Urbana; one step-daughter, Linda Lantz of Saint Paris; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; seven step great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold (Betty) Reed of Saint Paris; one sister, Glenna (Jack) Wiltheiss of Perrysville; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Russell was preceded in death by a step-grandson, James Lantz, Jr. and one brother, Melvin Reed. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 4, 2005 from 5-8 p.m. in the RICHESON-WICKHAM AND ATKINS FUNERAL HOME, 216 South Springfield Street, Saint Paris. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2005 at 11 a.m. in the Saint Paris United Methodist Church, corner of Church and Walnut Streets, with Reverend Douglas Upton officiating. Burial will follow in Spring Grove Cemetery. Military graveside services will be conducted by Keith Cretors Post 148, American Legion, and Philip Grieser Post 7645, Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Saint Paris. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Russell's memory to either the Fletcher Lions Club, c/o Jim Hart, 5675 Casstown-Sidney Road, Fletcher, Ohio 45326 or the JSP Fire District, P.O. Box 648, Saint Paris, Ohio 43072.