Born on December 31, 1932, in Pikeville, Kentucky, Reed was the youngest of 16 children born to James Alvin and Sadie Sanders Bartley.
Legend has it that Reed's mother was excited to have saved enough to send him to college. No sooner did she pay for his first semester and he decided to join the military. He never did attend college but he did devote his next 23 years to serving his country, in the Air Force. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star and the Meritorious Service Medal before he retired as Senior Master Sergeant.
In addition to his service to his country he also worked as a security guard at New Hanover Regional Medical Center for 15 years. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening and collecting antiques.
Reed was a Master Mason and Charter Member of Federal Point Masonic Lodge #753 of Carolina Beach.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dolores (Thibodeau) Bartley; 3 sons, Steven Bartley and his wife, Pamela, James Bartley and his wife, Tammy, Kurt Bartley and his wife, Wendy; 5 grandchildren, David Brown and his wife, Karen, Amber Bartley and her wife, Michaela, Autumn Bartley, Ryan Belshaw and his wife, Megan, and Savannah Miller; 8 great-grandchildren, Geneva Wilder, Asher Lewis, Tucker Brandt, Riley, Aubree and Emmie Belshaw, Ryder Miller and Arya Kendrick.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, beginning with visitation at 1:00 PM, followed by the Funeral at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Carolina Beach, 400 N. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach. Following the funeral, interment, with military honors, will be at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 1311 Shipyard Blvd., Wilmington.
