Stella Kilmer Reed

After a long and good life, Stella Kilmer Reed passed away peacefully on September 28, 2014.

Stella was born to Blanch Ellis Kilmer and Frederick Mills Kilmer Jr. in Los Angeles on May 20, 1919.

As a child, she lived in Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Santa Barbara. After graduating from Santa Barbara High School, she attended UCLA and graduated in 1940 with a degree in Political Science.

At the beginning of World War II, her older brother Frances "Red" Henderson helped her obtain employment with Johns Manville Corporation at the Celite plant in Lompoc. She worked there until she met and married Lincoln James Reed in 1946. Her wedding gown was made from Lincoln's parachute.

Lincoln had returned to Lompoc from the Army Air Corps to run Reedson's Dairy, the family business, with his brother Leonard and brother-in Law Neal Elms. Together he and Stella raised three children in a house they built themselves.

In the early 1960's Stella went to work for the City of Lompoc. She retired from the city in 1983 as Finance Director.

Stella lost the love of her life, Lincoln, to cancer in 1969. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Frances "Red" Henderson, and brother Frederick Mills Kilmer III.

During her retirement, she served many local charities and service organizations including The Flower Festival, The Food Pantry, The Cancer Society, The Lompoc Museum, The Boys and Girls Club of Lompoc, The Lompoc Valley Women in Chambers of Commerce, Quota Club and others. Perhaps the highlight of her life was being Grand Marshal of the Flower Festival in 2000.

Stella is survived by her daughter Mary Ward and her husband Steve of Portland Oregon, son Lincoln James "Jim" Reed Jr. and his wife Shirin of Lompoc and son Frederick Horace Reed also of Lompoc.

She also had four grandchildren Lindsay Reed and Lincoln J. Reed of Lompoc and Steven Ward Jr. (and wife Cindy) and James F. Ward both of Portland. She also has two great granddaughters in Lompoc and a great grandson in Portland.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Flower Festival Association, Boys and Girls Club of Lompoc or the Lompoc Museum. A memorial service for Stella is being planned for early November.