William Reynolds

Memorial Day morning, May 28th, 2012, William Arthur Reynolds, of rural Miami County, passed away at Saint Luke"s Plaza Hospital. Known as "Bill", he enjoyed being surrounded by his family, friends and especially the hospital staff until the last second telling jokes and reminiscing. Bill was born on the 21st of July 1925 on the Reynolds Paola Farm to James "Art" Arthur Reynolds and Faye Vivian Winner. His one brother, Earnest Sheldon Reynolds and one sister, Mildred Reynolds Cunningham preceded him in death as did his one year old daughter, Carolyn Louise, in 1951. Bill attended kindergarten in Paola, and completed grade school at the nearby Plum Creek School. He was drafted into the infantry after graduating from Paola High School in 1943. He served with the 75th Infantry in World War II as a BAR gunner, being injured in the Belgium Bulge at the Battle of the Colmar Pocket in France. He was awarded the following for his service: Combat Infantryman 1st Award, Marksman Qualification Badge Expert Rifle, The Purple Heart, The Bronze Star, Good Conduct, American Campaign 1941-1945, European African Middle Eastern Campaign 1941-1945, World War II Victory, and Campagne Rhin Et Danube Premiere Armee Francaise. After spending two years with surgeries and recovering at the Springfield, Missouri O"Reilly General Hospital, he married Alvera Corey August 25th, 1946 of Paola at the Methodist Church. He graduated from Kansas State University, Manhattan with degrees in Engineering and Vocational Agriculture. After teaching for seven years at Hope, Kansas, he spent the rest of his career as a design engineer in the food industry, safety demonstration and television. He retired from Zenith Color TV in Springfield, Missouri. Wherever they lived he was actively engaged in the community. Bill was proud to have been a part of the very first BASS Master Fishing tournament. A willing volunteer for city council, church, scouts, ambulance driver, Deputy Sheriff, Patriotic organizations as Sons of the American Revolution, Disabled American Veterans and Scouts. Alvera actively joined Bill with family activities, golfing, camping, water skiing, fishing and hobbies and crafts in his shop. Bill is survived by his wife Alvera; son Robert Reynolds and his wife Cheryl of Fairway, Kansas; two daughters Vivian Lawhon and husband Keith of St. Jospeh, Missouri and Paula Daniels and her husband Jeff of Phoenix, Arizona; eight grandchildren Christopher Reynolds, Sarah White and husband Matthew, Elizabeth Tully, Jennifer LeHew, John-William Daniels, Jordan Daniels, Jacob Daniels and Jared Daniels. A perfect day or hour for Bill was to spend it with his grandchildren or children teaching them the skill of using shop tools or golfing or bass fishing. The words husband, father, grandfather, uncle, engineer, designer, inventor, storyteller, teacher and perfectionist best describe Bill Reynolds. Memorial contributions may be made to Sons of the American Revolution Delaware Chapter.