Lettie B. Reed

Lettie Burns Reed passed away on October 21, 2016 in Houston, Texas after a brief illness. She was born June 15, 1924 in Ashford, West Virginia. While living in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1944, she met her husband and the love of her life, Lee Roy Reed. He was in the military in World War II, and on Halloween while on a three-day pass, they were married. They had two sons, D.L. Whitney Reed and Brian K. Reed. She and Lee were avid square dancers and served in several national administrative positions. They chaired the 36th National Square Dance Convention in Houston which was attended by over 20,000 dancers from the US and all over the world. She and Lee founded and performed in a square dance exhibition group called The Spirits.

Lettie worked hard all of her life, first on the farm as a child and then from the age of 18 until a few weeks prior to her death. She worked at NASA as a technical editor when it opened an office in Houston in 1962. She retired from NASA in 1990. She then worked with her sons at DUALCO, a company her husband founded under the name of Hypar Instrument Co., until shortly before her death. She was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and sang in the choir. She always kept her faith. Lettie was a wonderful role model who believed in the value of hard work. She was a good, caring, generous and strong person who loved her country and will be missed by many.

Lettie was predeceased by her mother Josephine Burns Eplin, husband Lee Roy Reed, sister Virginia Hogshead, and brother Robert William Burns as well as several other beloved siblings. She is survived by her two sons, Whitney Reed (Sherri), and Brian Reed (Stacey), granddaughter Raynie Lee, grandson Michael, sister Ethel Louise Hill (Henry), brothers Harold Eplin (Imogene) and John Eplin (Arlene), and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be from 4-8pm on Thursday, October 27 at Forest Park East in Webster, TX. Services will be at Glen Brook United Methodist Church in Houston on Friday, October 28, at 9 am, and interment in Ridgeway Cemetery in Paige, Texas at noon on Saturday, October 29. Donations may be made to Glen Brook United Methodist Church, 8635 Glen Valley Drive, TX 77061. Honorary pallbearers include Whit Reed, Brian Reed, Henry Hill, Henry Hill, Jr., Johnny Bonario and Otto Warteman.