Thomas William "Bill" Reed

Thomas William “Bill” Reed, 76, of Morganton, NC, died Friday, July 10, 2015.  Born April 22, 1939 in Avery County, NC, he was the son of the late John Otis Reed and Ruth Townsend Reed.  Bill was a member of Faith Freewill Baptist Church, and a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.  He worked for many years at the Justice Drug Company in Greensboro, NC, and then retired from SGL Carbon in Morganton.  Bill was an avid fisherman and golfer, and loved visiting his family and friends in Avery County.

Bill is survived by cousins, Lois Dean Eller Hughes of Matney, NC, Kerm Eller and wife, Dianna Aldridge Eller, and Kaye Eller Greene and husband, Michael, all of Newland, NC; grandsons, Scott Christenbury and Randy Norman, Jr.; and his friend and caregiver, Leroy Horney and wife, Kathy, of Morganton.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a son, Thomas William “Chip” Reed, Jr.; and grandparents, William Walter Townsend and Etta Townsend. 

The family will receive friends Sunday, July 12, 2015 from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Faith Freewill Baptist Church.  The funeral service will follow at 6:00 p.m. with Rev. Rocky Reese officiating.  Burial with military honors will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 13, 2015 at the Newland Cemetery, Newland, NC.  Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690, or to the American Cancer Society, 4-A Oak Drive, Greensboro, NC  27407. 

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.