Reed Francis Maier

He was predeceased by his parents, Francis C. and Alma Maier, and brother, William C. Maier.

He leaves behind his sister, Doris Maier Williams; sister-in-law, My T. Maier; wife Geraldine Melvin Maier; daughters, Carey Elizabeth Maier and Meghan Courtney Maier; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Maier served two years in the US Navy Pacific theater during World War II and played baseball four years in the Washington Senators minor league system. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and a member of the VFW, American Legion, Catholic War Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, and the WWII Memorial Society.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct 16 from 7-9 at Murphy Falls Church. A Funeral Mass will be held Friday Oct 17 at 12:45 at St James Catholic Church followed by interment at Fairfax Memorial Park.

Obituary Article

On Sunday morning, October 12, 2014, Reed Francis Maier, of Falls Church, VA, passed away quietly, at Arcola Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, in Silver Spring, MD, due to lung cancer. He was 88.

Mr. Maier was born on March 21, 1926, in Providence Hospital, in Washington, DC. He was the son of Mr. Francis C. (Frank) Maier and Mrs. Alma V. (McCormick) Maier, also of Falls Church. He was pre-deceased by his parents, as well as recently by his younger brother, William C. Maier.

Mr. Maier was raised in Washington, DC, where he attended public schools. He was an apt English student, and once discovered an error in an English text book. He was a 1944 graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School, where he excelled in baseball.

Following high school graduation, Mr. Maier enlisted in the USNR, where he served as a Signalman, rising to First Class. He attended Boot Camp in Camp Perry, VA, then began serving in 1944. Tours included the Philippines, New Liberty Island, and Japan. The ships on which he served included a tanker, an LCI (M) 755, as well as a couple of destroyers. One destroyer was sunk while he was aboard, and he was forced to float in the Pacific for several days, until help arrived to rescue him. He was transferred aboard the USS Bountiful (hospital ship), recuperating from exposure.

The ribbons and medal he was awarded include: the Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Theater Ribbon, and the Victory Medal.

Following his Naval career, a try-out with the Washington Senators' manager, Ossie Bluege, was arranged, and Mr. Maier began a career with the minor leagues in 1947, continuing through 1951. The teams he played for included the Kingsport (TN) Cherokees (Appalachian League), in 1947; the New Castle (DE) Nats (Mid-Atlantic League), in 1949; Concord (NC) Nationals (North Carolina State League), in 1950; and, the Fulton (KY) Railroaders (Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee League), in 1951. He played third base; batted right. His lifetime minor league batting average was .250. (NOTE: Year of birth is incorrect at www.baseball.reference.com. Is stated correctly, above.) If not for PTSD, a career with the Major League was certain. Mr. Bluege had told Mr. Maier's parents, “Someone like Reed comes along once in a blue moon.”

Mr. Maier leaves behind his beloved sister, Doris Maier Williams, formerly of Falls Church, now residing in Locust Grove, VA; one nephew, David J. Williams, III, of Manassas; and two nieces, Patricia Williams Rodriguez, of Columbia, MD; and Karen Williams Harrington, of Bejou, MN. Additional survivors include two great-nieces: Katie Philpot Vey, of Ashburn; Shannon R. (Williams) Shifflett, of Bristow; and five great nephews: Len T. Philpot, of Grand Forks, ND; Travis B. Williams, of Manassas; Ryan M. Brennan, of Myrtle Beach, SC; Blair P. Brennan, of Ruther Glen; and Adam Wesley Rodriguez, of Columbia, MD.

Other survivors include four great-great-nieces, and ten great-great-nephews.

Additionally, he leaves his dear friend Fosca Gianneschi Mischou, his sister-in-law My Thi Maier, and an assortment of step-nieces and -nephews. Also included is his wife, Geraldine Melvin Maier; and two daughters, Carey Elizabeth Maier and Meghan Courtney Maier.

He was a member of the following groups: Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Catholic War Veterans; Disabled American Veterans; and, World War II Memorial Society.

Friends may call at Murphy Funeral Home, 1102 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046, on Thursday, October 16, 2014, from 7-9 PM. Mass will be celebrated at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church, VA, 22046, on Friday, October 17, 2014, at 12:45 PM, with interment immediately following, at National Memorial Park, in Fairfax, VA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cancer Society.

This article is respectfully submitted by Mr. Reed F. Maier's niece, Patricia W. Rodriguez, on Tuesday, October 14, 2014.

Arrangements under the direction of Murphy Falls Church Funeral Home, Falls Church, Virginia.