Wallace Reed

Wallace DeLane Reed, 100, passed away peacefully at his Athens, Georgia home on Saturday, October 25th, 2025. A native of Stanford, Kentucky, he was born on February 26th, 1925; the eldest son of Effie Bussell Reed and Holton Lewis Reed.

He was a decorated veteran with a long military career beginning when he enlisted with the Navy soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, serving in that branch of the armed forces until the end of WWII. He was among the many American heroes to storm Omaha Beach at the Battle of Normandy – D-Day; June, 6th 1944. Soon thereafter, he married Elizabeth Carter of Danville, Kentucky and together they made their home in Stanford, having two children, Janice and Barry. After taking leave from the Navy, he joined the Army where he fought in the Vietnam War before bringing his family to Athens, Georgia where he concluded his military career as the ROTC instructor at the University of Georgia. Upon retirement from the University, he translated a long-time hobby of “junking” into a business and opened Reed’s Odds and Ends in 1974. Over the years, many came to know the smiling gentleman behind the counter; smoking his pipe while readying his latest “find” for sale, his hands always busy. He simply enjoyed being there - looking forward to chatting with those customers who had become friends over time and taking great pride in those who he first encountered as children now dropping by with children of their own. When the shop was destroyed by fire on his 90th birthday, he simply sat quietly, lit his pipe, and calmly said “well, I guess we’ll rebuild” – and so he did, continuing to work well into his ‘90s.

Wallace was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 55 years, Elizabeth, son, Barry (Patricia), and granddaughter, Leslie. He is survived by his daughter, Janice Reed, granddaughters Laurie Dew (Rob) and Christie Reed Marsh, and grandson, Scott Reed (Daniel), all of Athens, his brother Marvin Reed (Marlene), and niece Melinda Reed Jones (Tom) and nephew Mark Reed (Melissa) of Lexington, Kentucky, and six great-grandchildren.

Of his many accomplishments, he was most proud of his family and, secondly, to have seen 100 years, an achievement he often mentioned. He will not only be remembered for his years of service and for the shop that became a local landmark but also for his lifetime of kindness and generosity. With a quiet wit, sly smile, and gentle hand, he was a loving husband and devoted father, and the kind of grandfather that we should all be so fortunate to have. His was a life well-lived, a testament to “The Greatest Generation”, and he will be dearly missed.

Lord and Stephens Funeral Home, WEST, Watkinsville, GA is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com