Leo Becker Reynolds

Leo Becker Reynolds, a well known local musician, age 92, died peacefully in Modesto on September 21, 2012, after a long illness. Mr. Reynolds was born the eldest child to Albert William Reynolds and the former Helen Becker on March 25, 1920, in Chicago. When Mr. Reynolds was a toddler, the family moved back to their native Kansas, where Mr. Reynolds grew up in and near Lyons in central Kansas. Mr. Reynolds' father was a musician and violinist who encouraged his son to study violin. Mr. Reynolds began his violin studies at an early age under his father's tutelage. The family moved to the nearby town of Lindsborg, Kansas when Mr. Reynolds entered high school to pursue his violin studies at Bethany College.

Mr. Reynolds graduated from Lindsborg High School and then attended Bethany College in Lindsborg for four years where he continued his study of violin. In the spring of 1941, Mr. Reynolds played his senior violin recital, graduated from Bethany, was married, and inducted into the United States Army all within a two week period. Mr. Reynolds served in the Pacific theater as an enlisted man.

After the war, Mr. Reynolds returned to his musical studies, this time at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He obtained a second Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Music degree, graduating in 1948. As a student, Mr. Reynolds played in a faculty string quartet at Yale. While at Yale, he also studied violin and conducting at the Julliard School of Music in New York City.

After his graduation from Yale, Mr. Reynolds began his long university and college career in music with an emphasis on violin and chamber music. Mr. Reynolds was a professor of music for a decade at Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, Texas, during the 1950's. He later taught in the 1960's at Olympic Junior College in Bremerton, Washington, where he was also conductor of the Bremerton Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Reynolds completed his teaching and performing career in Modesto in the 1970's where he served as concertmaster of the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and professor of music at Modesto Junior College where he retired at age 68. In his retirement, Mr. Reynolds continued his work with the Modesto Suzuki Association, which he founded in 1975, retiring again at age 88 with his final student being his granddaughter, Aimee Jose. The MSA continues to teach string instruments and piano to a large number of students ranging in age from preschool through high school. During his career, Mr. Reynolds for varying periods held the position of music professor in several other schools including North Texas University in Denton, Fort Hays University in Kansas, The university of Texas at El Paso and Appalachian University in North Carolina.

Baptized an Episcopalian, Mr. Reynolds later attended and joined the Augustana Lutheran Church, the Swedish American Church of his wife's family. Mr. Reynolds also served as minister of music in several churches during his working life. He sang bass and also composed anthems for these choirs.

Mr. Reynolds was married for sixty-six years to the former Jean Wallin, who was the daughter of one of his music professors at Bethany College. She preceded him in death, as did one son, Daniel William Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds is survived by two sons, Thomas Leo Reynolds of Tucson, Arizona, and Dr. John Wallin Reynolds of Richmond, Virginia, and a daughter, Mary Jean Jose of Elk Grove, California. Mr. Reynolds is also survived by seven grandchildren, Robert Jeffery Reynolds, Tiffany Margaret Reynolds, Michael Scott Jose, Mark Daniel Jose, Sarah Ann Jose, Aimee Elizabeth Jose, and Nicole Jean Jose; three great grandchildren, Steven Lee Partridge, Beaumont Robert Burfiend, an Logan Jaspar Burfiend; and a niece, Helen Kathleen Gragert. A brother, Verne Becker Reynolds and a sister Kathleen Becker Koons also preceded him in death.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 11:00 at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 324 College Ave., Modesto, California with private interment in Lakewood Memorial Park, Hughson, California. The family suggests that memorial gifts be made to The Modesto Suzuki Association, Community Hospice, or the Daniel William Reynolds Scholarship Fund at Modesto Junior College.