William D. Reeder

William (Bill) Dean Reeder (Colonel USAF, retired) passed away October 31, 2013 and is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Winifred Davis Reeder; four children, Ruth (Walter Crouch), Dean (Regina Chambers - deceased), Susan (Walter Bala), and Hannah (Peter Kerrigan); five grandchildren, Robert Reeder (Dana Lofties), Dana Reeder (Josh Cook), Elizabeth Reeder (Scott Alexander), Daniel Kerrigan (Megan Goerner), Drew Kerrigan (Gina Dyke); and six great-grandchildren, Madeline and Lauren Reeder, Loki Goerner (Kerrigan), Remmy and Carly Kerrigan and Claudia Alexander.

Bill was born in Nashville, TN, Dec. 18, 1921, son of Elmer Canon and May Belle Reeder. Growing up in Dickson, TN everyone called him Dean. After joining the military in 1940 he was known as Bill.

Bill and Winifred met at a USO club in Douglas, Ga. Winifred is a native of Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in social work. She was working in Douglas, GA, and Bill was in pilot training at a nearby air base. A local bank had provided space for a USO club where servicemen could go to relax and get a taste of home when on liberty. Winifred was there one afternoon and that’s where they met, and as they say, the rest is history. Their married life began in Bytheville, AR, where they were married April 29, 1943, just before the Army Air Corps shipped Bill to England. Bill’s first trip to Europe was on the liner the Queen Mary with 17,000 other GIs.

After graduating from high school in Dickson, Bill entered military service in 1940. He remembered his first night away from home sleeping on the floor of a hanger at Berry Field, now the Nashville International Airport. Bill served in the Army Air Corps, later becoming the U.S. Air Force, completing 28 combat missions in Europe as a B-17 pilot, 306th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force during World War II and as a Communications Officer for the remainder of his career. During his military career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, 4 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 4 Air Medals, 2 Presidential Unit Citations, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 3 Air Force Commendation Medals, Army Commendation Medal, American Defense Medal (Pre-Pearl Harbor Active Duty), American Campaign Medal (with Battle Star), European-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (WWII), World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal (WWII) and Vietnam Service Medal.

Bill was warm, kind-hearted, and giving to his family and friends. He loved traveling the world with his family. After retirement in 1972, Bill and Winifred moved to Clarksville, TN, where he was an active member of the Madison Street Methodist Church and civic groups. For the next 35 years he was a valued member of the Clarksville community, serving on many community and church boards. He enjoyed playing golf with Winifred and being a loving grandpa and great-grandpa. Bill and Winifred were world travelers before they moved into McKendree Village in 2007. Pick a country on the world map and it is likely that Bill and Winifred have been there. By the end of his military career Bill had been stationed in 39 locations.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2013, three thirty in the Chapel, McKendree Village, 4347 Lebanon Road, Hermitage, TN. Visitation to follow.

The family requests no flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given to the McKendree Village Chapel Fund, % Dept. of Pastoral Care, McKendree Village, 4347 Lebanon Road, Hermitage, TN 37076 or to your church in memory of William Dean Reeder.