Walter Leroy Reed, 89, of Oak Grove, Missouri passed away December 28, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at Northcare Hospice House, in North Kansas City, Missouri. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Oak Grove Church of Christ, 104 SW 6th St. Oak Grove, MO 64075. The family will receive friends from 10:00am until service time. Burial will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Oak Grove, Missouri. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions to Oak Grove Church of Christ.
Walter was born on February 23, 1935, in Paola, Kansas, to Solon and Carrie (Stiles) Reed. His family traveled and lived in several locations during his early life. He graduated from high school in Paducah, Kentucky. As a young man he worked for a carnival and in construction. He married Lois Jean Hackley on December 24, 1955. They were blessed with three children. He was employed by General Motors at the Leeds Plant for over 30 years. For many of those years he worked as a foreman. Walter enjoyed traveling and liked taking long driving trips. He was also a small aircraft pilot and truly loved flying. He was a committed, active member of the Civil Air Patrol for many years. During that time he reached the rank of Colonel and served as the Missouri Wing Commander. He was instrumental in establishing local fire service and served as one of the early members of the Fire Department Board of Directors. He was a long-time member of Oak Grove Church of Christ and served the church as a deacon.
He was preceded in death by his parents Solon and Carrie (Stiles) Reed, brother Thomas Reed, sister Betty Jean Moore, son Michael Reed, and grandson Adam Reed. Survivors include his wife Lois Reed of Oak Grove, daughter Suzan (Dean Robinette) O’Dell of Polo, MO, son Jeff (Mary) Reed of Oak Grove, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home Oak Grove, MO 64075 – 816-690-4441