Vern Reynolds
Vern Reynolds, 82, of Battle Creek, MI, and Leesburg, FL, died at Battle Creek Health System, with his family at his side, on Monday, September 13, 2010. He was born on November 12, 1927, in Sullivan County, IN, to Smith and Gladys (Stewart) Reynolds. As a child he moved to Battle Creek, where he attended a one room country school and was a 1945 graduate of Battle Creek Senior High School. One of his favorite retreats in high school was Ye Olde Mission Billiard Hall, where he played a mean game of snooker. Before graduation, he worked at O.K. Anderson Jewelry Store and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in Aug. 1947. Vern married Jean Marie Wellever in Nov. 1947 and they moved to Peoria, IL, in Jan. 1948, where he attended watchmaker school at the Bradley Polytechnic Institute. After graduating from there in late 1948, he again worked for O.K. Anderson until Oct. 1950, when he began at Post Cereals. He was employed at Post Cereals for 36 years, retiring in 1986, as supervisor of the Control Department. In May of 1974, Vern married Lois G. (Crosby) Seabrooke. For over 20 years he spent his winters with Lois in Florida, returning to Battle Creek the other half of the year. Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Lois Reynolds; his children, Sandy (Jim) Denzel of Milpitas, CA, Kathy (Randy) Crandall of Mendon, and Mike (Janet) Reynolds of Hastings; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; his stepchildren, Linda (Jim) Smith and Ross Seabrooke; and Linda's two children. Vern was preceded in death by his parents and three siblings, Mary Eleanor Fancher, Wilma Watts and Merle E. Reynolds. Vern was always "Mr. Fix-it", at home and at his families' and friends' homes. Nothing was too big or small. He loved to work with his hands and had the tools and scars to prove it. Until his retirement, Vern went deer hunting every fall. After retiring, he began fishing, in Michigan, in Florida and on his yearly two week fishing trip to Canada. Over the years, he was accompanied on his fishing trips to Canada by all of his children, his wife Lois, as well as a friend or two. Vern loved playing golf (achieving four hole-in-ones), repairing watches for many years, playing poker and euchre with friends, and in his later years enjoyed thrift stores and garage sales. At the request of the family, friends may call after 6:00 p.m. Thursday, September 16, 2010 at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, MI, where they will be received 6:00-8:00 p.m. Services to celebrate Vern's life will be held at the funeral home 1:30 p.m., Friday, September 17, 2010. Military honors and interment will follow at Bedford Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Bibles for Missions or Habitat for Humanity.
1927 - 2010 (82 years)
