Merle Wilson Reed

Merle Wilson Reed, 87, of Columbus, Ohio, formerly of Washington and Roulette, died at 1:30 p.m. Friday, February 10, 2006, in Westerville (Ohio) Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing Care. He had been ill since May 2005. He was born November 11, 1918, in Deemston Borough, a son of Ira Wayne Sr. and Ada Blanche Evans Reed. He was retired from U.S. Steel Homestead Works, where he had been a machine cutter for 28 years. He was a member of Paternal Order of Eagles and Lions Club, both of Coudersport. He was a state constable and had been a member of Roulette Fire Department. He had a doctor of motors degree. In his younger years, he had worked for his father, a Washington-area general contractor. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed fishing in Port Clinton, Ohio. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army with Company L 314th Infantry Regimen. He participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe campaigns. He received the Expert Infantryman Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Ribbon and Victory Medal WWII. On October 12, 1987, in Columbus, he married Ruth Vivian Starky, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Kerwin and wife Betty Reed of Columbus and Dirk and wife Juanita Reed of Finleyville; two daughters, Cindy Reed Smoker-Knowlton of Roulette and Mary Lou and husband James Mullenaux of Grantsville, W.Va.; a sister, Evelyn Reed Whitehurst of Columbus; a half sister, Mona Lea Megyesy of Washington; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Deceased are a sister, Genevieve Dale Reed; two brothers, William Voigt Reed and Ira W. Reed Jr.; and a great-granddaughter, Candice Makenna Smoker. Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday in William G. Neal Funeral Home, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 15, followed by interment in Buckingham Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted graveside by Edwin Scott Linton American Legion Post 175.