MaryAnn Reinert

December 25, 1948 – October 8, 2021

MaryAnn (Phares) Reinert, born in Albright, West Virginia on December 25th, 1948 to Ross and Alice Florine (Lipscomb) Phares was called home to our Lord and Savior on Friday, October 8th, 2021 after a hard fought battle with ALS.

MaryAnn was raised as one of five daughters and a brother, in the mountains of West Virginia. MaryAnn attended Rowlesburg High School, WV where she graduated as Salutatorian in 1966.

After graduation, she followed her sister Joan Warren (Ed) and Vivian Marshall (John) to Langley AFB, VA where she began working for the federal government as a civil servant in the base Civilian Personnel Office. In 1973, a new recruit to the Air Force, Brad Reinert, was assigned to Langley AFB (Military Personnel Office), same building as MaryAnn, when Brad began the pursuit of his future bride. They fell in love; married on April 10, 1976 at the Langley AFB Catholic Chapel where their 46+ years of love for one another began and grew everyday.

MaryAnn travelled around the globe with her husband, then Sgt Brad Reinert, having made 27 family relocations over the span of 36 years serving as a proud Mom, and Air Force wife. Brad Jr, 45, (Melissa) came into the world as child #1 and in 1978, Joey (Liz) came to the family. MaryAnn encouraged her husband to get his college education and become an Air Force officer. Brad did exactly that, and in 1983 was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Air Force. In July 2009, MaryAnn stood proudly at his side for his retirement from the Air Force where at Shaw AFB, Sumter SC. Brad retired at the rank of Colonel and MaryAnn beamed with pride. MaryAnn was “God first; Mom 2nd; wife 3rd, and when time permitted, Air Force spouse.

MaryAnn loved raising her children. It was the highlight of her entire life. While she did academic work at various Air Force assignments toward her college degree, motherhood was her highest honor, top priority and pleasure. That, followed by grandmotherhood, when God, along with Brad and Melissa gifted her with two grandsons (Brayden, 3) and Noah (21 months) and her “grandpuppies”; Frank, Baxter and Paddington, from Joey and Liz.

MaryAnn was preceded in death by her Father, Ross, and Mother, Alice Florine. Survivors are Col Brad Reinert, Sr, USAF-Ret; Brad Jr (Melissa); and Joey (Liz). Her sisters: Joan Warren (Ed); Apple Valley, CA; Vivian Marshall (John) Chester, VA; Nancy Heist (Jerry) York, PA; Linda Sue Phares, Mt Lake Park, MD; and Robert Lipscomb, South Amherst, OH.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests monetary donations to the research for a cure for ALS. A Celebration of Life Catholic Mass will be at St Stephen’s Church, Riverview, FL at a future date.