Joseph Pomeroy

LAKELAND, Fla. — Joseph Reid Pomeroy, known to all family and friends as Reid, died Thursday, June 16, 2016, at South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, Fla.

Reid was born July 1, 1953, in Princeton to Joseph W. and Phyllis J (Paden) Pomeroy. He attended grade and middle school at Bureau Township and Walnut High School. Sports became a passion of his very early in his life because of his parents. He played football, basketball and track all through high school.

Upon graduation, he attended United Electronics Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. Following completion of his studies in 1973, he traveled to Lakeland, Fla., where he worked for the telephone company (Verizon) for 43 years due to the influence of his older brother, David, who also worked and retired from Verizon.

He played softball with Tarvin Construction for 16 years and also basketball for the Lakeland city league. His passion started with coaching youth football for the Patriots and youth basketball in 1976. He was given the opportunity to coach football at Santa Fe Catholic High School from 1988 to 1996. He then coached football at Kathleen Senior High School in 1998 until the present, where he continued to influence the lives of all his “sons” and anyone who had the privilege to know him.

He is survived by Denise "Jo" Pomeroy Jones, whom he was married to for 27 years; the very proud father of Lindsey and Brianna; and a devoted grandfather to Clayton, Jaylen and Adalynn. He is also survived by his sister, Dixie Utter (Pete); a brother, Bob (Patti); a sister-in-law, Roberta; four aunts, Betty Bass, Helen Swanson, Roberta Thompson and Margaret Birkey; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Reid was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, David; his grandparents, Oren D and Mary Jeannette Pomeroy, and Ferris and Gladys Paden.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Kathleen Baptist Church, 3939 Second St. SW, Lakeland, Fla., at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 30.

Donations in memory of Coach Reid Pomeroy may be made out to: Lakeland Patriots, Lake Gibson Youth Football or Kathleen Senior High School Football Program.