Reed L. Rowland

May 2, 1929 – January 16, 2018

Reed Rowland passed away peacefully at the Veteran’s Hospital in Palo Alto, California on January 16, 2018, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88 years old. Reed had courageously battled heart disease for many years.

Reed was born to his parents Reed and Audrey Rowland on May 2, 1929 in Roosevelt, Utah. When Reed was only 7 months old, his father died tragically from pneumonia. Reed lived some of his early years with his Grandma and Grandpa Lerwill, while Audrey went away to Salt Lake City to train to be a hairdresser, so that she would be able to earn a living to support herself and Reed.

When Reed was 6 years old, Audrey and Reed moved to San Jose, California. Audrey worked at Sullivan’s Beauty College. Reed attended Pala Grammar School, Lowell Junior High School, San Jose High School and San Jose State College for one year.

At San Jose High School, Reed and several of his close friends formed a club. They called themselves the Bagels. They met and socialized regularly during their high school years and after high school as well. They often gathered at Reed’s house on Mt. View Avenue. As adults, they all went in different directions, to the military, their careers and raising families. They had developed an unusual bond with each other. They became lifelong friends, and continued to meet each other, at least every year. For fifty years, Noel and Betty Gassett hosted an annual 4th of July party for the Bagels at their home. The Bagels and their wives went on a memorable cruise together from Los Angeles to Vancouver and then by train from Vancouver to Montreal. The Bagels also went on a river cruise from Berlin, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. Although some of the Bagels have passed away now, the group still tries to get together every year. What a special friendship they shared.

After a year at San Jose State College, Reed made the decision to follow in his mother’s footsteps and become a hair stylist. He attended Sullivan’s Beauty College. After earning his cosmetology license, he worked for a couple of years as a hairdresser, until he enlisted in the military.

Reed joined the Navy in 1951, during the Korean War. He worked as a radioman on a ship stationed in Japan. He served in the Navy for four years.

After his discharge in 1955, he went to Hollywood for more hairstyling school. Lucille happened to be attending the same school. It is there where Reed met Lucille and asked her out for a date. This was the beginning their life journey together.

Reed and Lucille were married on September 13, 1958, in Lucille’s hometown, Burney, California. Their first residence was an apartment in Mountain View.

Reed first went to work at Bergman’s Beauty Salon in Palo Alto. He later entered into a partnership and opened John and Reed’s Salon. After a few years, Reed and Lucille were able to acquire full ownership of the salon, and it became the Midtown Beauty Salon in Palo Alto. Reed worked for over fifty years, as a beautician, in Palo Alto. He had many loyal customers who loved him dearly, and many of them became life-long friends.

Reed and Lucille bought their first home in San Jose in April 1962. It is still their home today. They had three loving children. They adopted Reed C. in August 1962, and Dean in February 1964. Tracy was born in September 1967.

Their granddaughter, Kaylee, was born in August 1992. Reed and Lucille enjoyed the precious time they spent with her before and after school when she was growing up and going to grammar school and middle school in their neighborhood. When Reed went into partial retirement and reduced his days at the salon, he would spend his off Tuesdays enjoying fun activities with Kaylee, while Lucille worked a day at the salon.

After Reed retired, he and Lucille loved traveling together. They took four trips to Europe and also traveled to Australia and New Zealand. They also enjoyed many cruises. Some of their favorite trips were the family vacations to Hawaii, Mexico and family cruises.

Even in retirement, Reed kept busy. He volunteered at the Palo Alto Veteran’s Hospital for eight years. He was an avid gardener and photographer. He loved to work in his yard, where he had many beautiful and rare plants. Every spring for over thirty years, Reed planted a very large vegetable garden in his neighborhood community garden plot. He produced beautiful tomatoes, squash and cucumbers, to name just a few. Reed also enjoyed a part time job at the Shoreline Amphitheatre.

Reed is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Lucille, son, Dean Rowland, daughter, Tracy Lucas, son-in-law, Chris Lucas and granddaughter, Kaylee Lucas. Reed was preceded in death by his son Reed C. Rowland, his father Reed Rowland, and his mother, Audrey Hickman.