Nathan Abbott Reynolds

Born February 7, 1929, the fourth child of Dean Stanley Reynolds, Sr. and Theresa Clara Ireland of Etna, Maine, Nate spent his early years learning on the family farm, in the town’s one room school house and at the family business, Reynolds Lumber Company. Their home was likely the only one in the region that had two telephone lines; one was local, the other was direct to the home of longtime family friends in Milton, MA. Upon graduating from Newport High School in 1947, Nate started his own farm by acquiring dairy cows and selling chicken eggs. In August 1950, enlisted into the USMC.

Over ten years, Nate built his knowledge of military communications, encryption, field radio, helicopters, foreign relations, crime investigation, national security issues and Marine Corp headquarter operations. His travels included four Mediterranean cruises and visits to near 50 countries. Duty stations included Paris Island, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, Base Gifu, South Korea, Treasure Island, Norfolk, Cherry Point, Vieques Islands, Cecily, and Crete.

In 1954, Nate proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Virginia “Ginny” June Mann, on her parents’ wedding anniversary. Her parents, Arthur and Ruth Crosby Mann, descendants of founding families of Randolph, MA and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, vacationed frequently to central Maine where Arthur’s co-worker at New England Bell grew up and was married to Nate’s Aunt Edna Reynolds Seavey. Nate and Ginny married February 11, 1956 at Mattapan Baptist Church, Milton, MA. The church was built by Ginny’s grandfather, William H. Crosby, who built over a hundred structures in the Boston area.

Nate’s discharge in November 1960 led to civilian employment at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. There he served 31 years finishing as Chief of the Analysis and Distribution Section of the Diplomatic Communications Center, while he and Ginny raised their girls, both graduates of George C. Marshall High School in Falls Church, VA.

Nate’s long time interests include the Mason’s Benevolent Lodge #87 of Carmel, Maine, Odd Fellows, The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, U. S. Naval Institute and various law enforcement groups. Nate asks that in his memory, contributions be made to assist veterans in need.

Nate was predeceased by Ginny (born April 5, 1929 on her father’s birthday) who passed May 30, 2004. Also predeceasing Nate are four siblings, all life-long residents of Maine: Dean “Junior” Stanley Reynolds, Martha Blanche Harmon, Thayes Mariah Harmon and Paul Henry Reynolds.

Nate is survived by daughters, Janet Louise Reynolds Chevalier of Raleigh, NC and Joyce Lorraine Reynolds of Falls Church, VA, three grandchildren and various proud extended family descending from Nathaniel Reynolds, brought by his parents to Boston near 1631, at least 20 Mayflower families and Tom Fowler, a Thoreau wilderness guide, founder of Millinocket, ME and landowner of The Great Northern Paper Company.

Nate will be laid to rest with Ginny at National Memorial Park, Falls Church, VA. National Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements for visitation August 21, 2021, 9:30-11:00am and grave site service after.