A veteran and served in world War II Frank William Reeves, son of Frank Ira Reeves and Louise (Zach) Reeves, was born on July 4, 1926 in Madison, Neb., and passed away on July 3, 2008 in Mt. Vernon Veterans Home, Mt. Vernon, Mo., at the age of 81 years, three hours short of his 82nd birthday.
Frank was a resident of Ava since 1981, moving from Los Alamos, N.M., where he retired from LANL in Los Alamo as a computer maintenance/manager.
On Jan. 13, 1947 Frank and Adeline Walters were united in marriage in Manhattan, Kan., and to this union eight children were born.
Frank was a veteran and served in world War II as an ET (E-7) with the U.S. Navy for 22 years. He was instrumental in starting the LST 49 Reunion Assoc., which served during WWII and was actively involved for over 21 years.
Frank was a member of Douglas County American Legion Post #112 and VFW #5993. He was also a devoted member of St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ava.
Frank was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and served as District Deputy & Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus in Los Alamos, N.M.
Frank enjoyed traveling, gardening, camping, fishing, hunting, music and dancing.
He loved being with all of his family for gatherings. He loved life to the fullest.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, one brother and one son, Robert.
He is survived by his wife, Adeline, of the home in Ava; seven children and their spouses, Patricia and John Day, Ravenel, S.C., Frank Jr. and Margaret Reeves, Los Alamos, N.M., Teresa Reeves and Kevin Long, St. Louis, Richard and Jill Reeves, Brunswick, Ga., Jeffrey Reeves, Kansas City, Kan., JoAnn and Matt Abbott, Virginia Beach, Va., and Kristi Reeves and Rudd Gates, Lakewood, Colo.; 16 grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret Krueger, Fulda, Minn., and Helen Coughey, Azusa, Calif.; many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ava, with Father Paul Wightman and Deacon Joe Kurtenbach officiating. Full military honors will be presented by U. S. Navy, American Legion Post 112, and VFW Post 5993. Frank’s cremains will be placed in the Columbarium Wall at the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery, Springfield.
A visitation and rosary will be Tuesday, July 15 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Clinkingbeard Funeral Home. The family requests memorials to Alzheimers Assoc. or Season’s Hospice of Springfield. Arrangements are being conducted by Clinkingbeard Funeral Home, Ava. Online condolences may be made at www.clinkingbeard funeralhome.com.
