Loren Fredrick Reed

Loren Fredrick Reed died on Friday November 12, 2010 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Loren was the first son born to Robert “Bob” and Shirley Reed on December 1, 1933 in Garden City, Kansas.

In 1940, Bob and Shirley moved, with their growing family, to San Angelo, and founded Newsfoto, a small pictorially oriented newspaper. During WWII Newsfoto changed its mission to printing Army Air Corps cadet class books and high school and college yearbooks, and the company became Newsfoto Publishing Company.

Loren grew up working for his father in the publishing business. He attended local schools and graduated from San Angelo High School in 1951. Loren then, on a football scholarship, went to the University of Colorado until the untimely death of his father in 1955. He left U of C to return to San Angelo to take over the management of Newsfoto. He remained as head of the company, through all of its growth and changes until his retirement in 1996. Loren was considered, by most in the yearbook business, as being the most knowledgeable person in that industry. He was also an accomplished private pilot, an avid outdoorsman, golfer and sportsman. He led a full, productive, and heady life.

Loren was preceded in death by his parents, Jill Reed – the mother of his children, and step-daughter Becky Henderson. Loren is survived by his loving wife Jean, his daughters Dana Reed-Rathfon and husband Bill, Vickie and husband David Foster, and Lori and husband Tony Zink. He is also survived by Jean’s children, Tony Wheeler and wife Marina, Larry Wheeler and wife Brenda, Paul Wheeler and wife Debbie, Kathy Wheeler, Jewell Elliot, and Linda Wheeler. His grandchildren are Amy and Ryan Parker, Heather and Elliot Vann, Mendi Foster, and Holly and Dani Zink, September and Tanner Henderson, Audrey and Tommy Jones, Joshua Wheeler and Allistair Winston, and five great grandchildren. He loved, adored and supported them all. Loren also left three brothers and their wives – Robert and Melva Reed, Scott and Donna Reed, Michael and Felisha Reed.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday November 18, 2010 at 2 PM in Johnson’s Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Paul Wheeler.

On Dying

I am standing on the seashore. A great ship spread its sails

To the morning breezes and starts out across the great ocean.

I remain watching until she fades on the far horizon.

Then, someone at my side cried out, “He is gone!”

Gone? Where? The loss is in me, not in Him, for at the moment

That person exclaimed, “He is gone!,” there are others,

On the far shore, who are watching for his coming, and other

Voices to take up the glad shout, “He is here!, He is here!”

And that is dying.

Attributed to: Henry Scott Holland

Bon voyage mon ami.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of choice.