- Date Of Birth: July 27, 1927
- Date Of Death: January 1, 2011
- State: Indiana
George Phillip Reid Sr., 70, passed away at 5:55 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 1, 2011) at his Edwardsburg home after an extended illness. He was born July 27, 1940, in Niles to George I. and Catherine (Rowe) Reid. On Valentine’s Day 1973, he married Retha J. “Jo” Stanford in South Bend, Ind. She survives at home.
Also surviving are a daughter, Rebecca D. “Becky” (Mike) Sommer of Edwardsburg; three sons, Joseph (Tammy) Reid, George (Melanie) Reid Jr. of Edwardsburg, and James (Kristine) Reid of White Pigeon; a sister, Deborah Gardiner of Napa Valley, Calif.; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, James Nicks; and a grandson, Cody Reid.
George was a lifelong trucker with nearly 30 years of experience behind him, working for such national transportation companies as McLean, Roadway, and ABF. He was a member of Elkhart Moose Lodge 599, Teamsters Local 364, was a U.S. Navy veteran, and attended the Elkhart Church of God. He lived life to the fullest, placing his special touch on everything he did and with everyone he knew.
His greatest loves included his wife and family, singing and playing guitar with his Pilgrim Band in Arcadia, Fla., and his 1956 Chevrolet Belair, which he lovingly restored along with bicycles and other antiques. He will be best remembered for the valiant fight, inspirational attitude, and courage he demonstrated during his illness and in the final days of his life.
