Roll Call Tribute

David Kent "Dave" Reed 

March 6, 1932 - August 7, 2024 

David Kent Reed, aged 92, passed away on August 7, 2024, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Born on March 6, 1932, in Burkburnett, Texas, to parents Claude and Vera Reed, David's life was marked by a profound dedication to his family, faith, and the field of entomology.

David is survived by his loving wife, Shirley Smith Reed; his children, Kelly Reed, Kyle Reed, and Marla Reed Mahar; his grandchildren, Brendan Reed, Brianna Reed Richardson, Mitchell Mahar, Veronika Reed, and Viktor Reed; and his great-grandchildren, Liam Richardson, Noah Richardson, Miles Richardson, and Sawyer Reed; and his much-loved cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brothers, John Ralston, and Jack Reed.

A proud alumnus of Burkburnett High School, David pursued further education rigorously, earning a BS in Entomology at Purdue, and an MS at Texas A & M University. He began his pursuit towards his PhD in Insect Pathology at Berkeley, accomplishing this goal at UC Riverside. His academic and professional journey in entomology included directing various laboratories and traveling globally, from China to South Africa and Chile to Poland, and many places in between. Notably, he served as a diplomat in Seoul, South Korea, focusing on Asian insects. After a distinguished 30-year career with the USDA and teaching entomology at Oklahoma State, he retired but continued to impact his community as a science teacher and volunteer.

David served two years in the Army, at Fort Sam Houston and at Fort Sill, which was only a short drive to Burkburnett. Since his friend, Bob, was away working in west Texas, David would spend a lot of time in Burk with Bob’s little sister. They were married on September 1, 1958. David and Shirley would have celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary this year.

A devout member of the Church of Christ, David was an elder and deacon in various congregations, and usually in charge of the benevolence programs, so he was always striving to aid those in need. His commitment to spiritual education was evident in his passion for studying and teaching the Bible, with a particular focus on the discourse between Creation and Evolution.

His hobbies included traveling and immersing himself in different cultures, which complemented his professional and spiritual pursuits, enriching his understanding and teachings of the natural world. His love of nature extended to his fondness for animals, but mainly dogs, of which he had at least one his entire life. His love of photography brought many a slideshow to his family after his many trips. Therefore, his family looked forward to hundreds of hours of annotating, and archiving thousands of slides! He also loved music, especially Mario Lanza, Big Band music, Broadway tunes, and elevator music. The last started many light-hearted arguments with his daughter about which was better, mainstream music with singers, or without singers. He loved the Church of Christ after being raised a Baptist because he often said that he could finally hear himself sing, no matter how off-key!

David's legacy is a tapestry of academic achievement, spiritual leadership, and a deep loyalty to his family and community. His life's work, devotion, and commitment to Christ continue to inspire all who knew him. As a family, we look forward to reuniting with him in Heaven.

David Reed's funeral will be held at the Burkburnett Church of Christ on August 14, 2024, at 2:00 PM. Visitation will be held at Owens & Brumley Funeral Home in Burkburnett on August 13 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. We invite all who knew him to gather with us to remember him.