Winifred Davis Reeder, born June 15, 1920 in Blakely, Georgia, passed away in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 8, 2018. She was the daughter of Mattie Carter Davis and Felix P. Davis. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 70 years, William Dean (“Bill”) Reeder (Colonel USAF, retired) who died in 2013. She is survived by four children: Ruth Reeder Crouch (Walter Crouch), William Dean Reeder, Jr. (Regina Chambers – deceased); Susan Reeder Bala (Walter Bala); and Hannah Reeder Kerrigan (Peter Kerrigan).
Winifred attended Wesleyan College (Macon, GA) and graduated from the University of Georgia. Winifred met Bill while she was employed as a social worker in Douglas, GA and Bill was in pilot training at a nearby air base. They met at the Douglas USO club in 1942 and were married in 1943 at Bytheville, AR where Bill completed his pilot training. Soon, Bill headed to England as a B-17 pilot and returned after completing 28 combat missions in the aircraft he and his crew named “Lady Winifred.” Thus began the inspirational story of their 70 year marriage, including 30 years as an active duty military family and a host of moves to air bases in the US, the Caribbean, Central America, the Pacific, and Europe. Throughout, Winifred was the rock, the glue, and the heart of the family unit. She always managed to make things work while cheering on the successes of her husband and children.
After Bill’s retirement in 1972, Winifred and Bill moved to Clarksville, TN where for the next 35 years they were active in the Madison Street United Methodist Church and civic groups. In 2007 they moved to McKendree Village. After Bill’s death, Winifred moved to Blakeford at Green Hills.
Other survivors include five grandchildren: Robert Dean Reeder (Dana Lofties), Dana Susan Reeder, Elizabeth Reeder Alexander (Scott Alexander), Daniel Kerrigan (Megan Goerner), and Andrew Kerrigan (Regina Dyke); and ten great-grandchildren.
Burial and memorial services for family members will be held on December 11, 2018, at the Veterans Cemetery on McCroy Lane, Nashville, TN. The family extends their many thanks to the dedicated staff at Woodcrest Health Center at Blakeford and to Alive Hospice, especially nurse Laura Denison. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends memorial gifts to the Employee Appreciation Fund, Blakeford at Green Hills, 11 Burton Hills Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215 or to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203.
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