Evan William Reed Sr.

EFFINGHAM – Evan William Reed Sr. of Effingham, Ill., (previously of Sterling, Ill.) passed away at his daughter’s home in Effingham July 6, 2019. This has been home for him for the past five years.

Evan (aka Pat) was born in Wellsville, Ohio, on July 24, 1920, to Everett and Edith (Payne) Reed. He graduated from Wellsville High School in 1938 and joined the CCC’s in 1939, taking him to Darby, Montana, for six months. He then returned to Ohio to work in the Sterling Pottery Factory with his parents until 1941, when he enlisted in the Air force.

He attended training at Chanute Field at Rantoul, Ill., and became an airplane mechanics instructor. He later was assigned in Oahu to repair and convert P-38 planes to Photographic F-5 planes. His outfit was sent in on the initial invasion of Okinawa without him, as he was hospitalized at the time. He was released on a medical discharge and returned to the states to reside in Santa Monica, where he met his first wife, Velma Helen (Smith) Reed.

Evan and Helen had three children, Evan W. Jr. of Florida, Ron Reed (Penny) of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Sally Lorenat Perles (John) of Effingham, Ill.. He had seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He married Wanda Jean Gibbons on October 27, 1973, and they enjoyed her son, David Gibbons, Sandra (Gibbons) Garcia, and Diana (Gibbons) Fisk, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Evan was predeceased by his parents, Everett and Edith Reed; his first wife, Velma Helen Reed; his wife, Wanda Jean Reed; and his sister, Esther Rawlings.

No local memorial services will be held. A Celebration of Life will be planned in Wellsville, Ohio, for family at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Effingham Animal Rescue Sanctuary, PO Box 1737, or the donor’s choice.