Lena Ellen Reinhardt

She was born on December 1, 1917, in Newton, North Carolina, a daughter of the late John Andrew Punch and Beulah Eudora (Miller) Punch.

She was a graduate of Startown High School in Catawba County and lettered both in Basketball and Softball. She was the Historian of her graduating class and the lead actress in its High School Senior Class play.

She was baptized in the Methodist Church but was confirmed in the St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Hickory, NC. She transferred her membership from St. Timothy to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in 1963 after she and her husband moved to Raleigh.

She was married to Howard E. Reinhardt of Hickory, NC on August 4, 1938.

She worked briefly in a glove mill and retail store but spent most of her time caring for her children and doing volunteer work.

As a youth, she served as President of her church Luther League group, and as an adult, taught Sunday and Bible School at St. Timothy Lutheran Church, was advisor to the Luther League and served as president of the Allen Frye Home Demonstration Club.

At Holy Trinity she served as advisor to the Luther League, was a member of the Church Hostess Committee, was elected president of her Sunday School Class, helped cook meals for the Older Adult monthly church luncheons, and was a member of the Older Adult Planning Committee and the Ladies Quilting Guild. She volunteered to deliver Meal-On-Wheels, and was honored by the City of Raleigh for significant service in the Retired Senior Volunteer Program at Wake Hospital.

She enjoyed traveling and visited many interesting places during trips that she and her Husband made to Mexico, Costa Rica, Columbia in South America, Canada and most of the 50 states, including Hawaiian Islands and Alaska.

Mrs. Reinhardt was preceded in death by her husband in 2008.

She is survived by her four daughters, and sons-in-law, Elaine Ellen Kendall of Fayetteville, NC, Eloise Rosalind and the Rev. Tommy Beaver of China Grove, NC, Nellena Mabel and the Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Kennedy of Yorktown Heights, NY, and Loretta Jeanne and Michael R. Williams of Pontoon Beach, Illinois; plus one son and daughter-in-law, Reginald Elmer and Brenda Sigmon Reinhardt of Kingsport, TN.

Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Gregory and wife Amy Beaver, Jennifer Beaver Bost, Julie Reinhardt and husband Casey Chapin, William Reinhardt, and wife Diana, Christopher Kennedy and wife Tracie, Michael Kennedy and wife Joan, Sara Kennedy, Alex and wife Nicole Williams and Caitlyn Williams, plus ten great grandchildren, Matthew and Andrew Beaver, Thomas and Elise Bost ,Micah and Isaac Chapin , Michael Reinhardt, Katie, Jayden and Timothy Patrick Kennedy.

Her living sibling includes one sister, Mrs. Alice Wilson of Conover.

The family will receive friends at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 12:45pm to 1:45pm. prior to the service.

Funeral services will be held in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, at the corner of Clark and Brooks avenues, Raleigh, NC at 2:00pm on Saturday, April 9, 2011 with Rev. Dr. Royal A. Yount, Jr., Rev. Lawrence F. Holmes , Rev. Tommy K. Beaver and Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Kennedy officiating.

Burial will be in the Raleigh Memorial Park at 7501 Glenwood Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2723 Clark Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27607-7199 or to ELCA Disaster Response Pacific Eathquake and Tsunami, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, ILL. 61694

Condolences may be made to www.brownwynne.com