Anthony Dale Reed

Anthony Dale Reed, 93, of Sedalia, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Sedalia. He was born on August 6, 1930, in Jetmore, KS, the son of Anthony Joseph Reed and Grace Agnes (Pitts) Reed, who preceded him in death.

On May 19, 1956, in Jetmore, KS, he was united in marriage to Opal Colleen Sinclair, who preceded him in death on September 18, 2005.

As a young man, Dale and his twin brother Gail moved to Hays, KS, to finish high school, where he played football. Also, he and his brother started a country and western band. Later, he joined the Army National Guard, worked in the Bemis oil fields in western Kansas, and built houses with his brother George. Dale decided to trade the oil fields for the Air Force. In order to get a weekend pass during training, he decided to try to become a fighter pilot. Dale was the only one to pass the test that weekend without a college degree. Dale went to college night school for 9 years, before graduating after his final year at University of Nebraska-Omaha. He was a flight instructor in Texas for three years. He was certified in 21 different aircraft. He served his country honorably from 1955 to 1974 and retired as a Lt. Col. During his service, he was a reconnaissance pilot in Europe, a forward air controller pilot in Vietnam, and was stationed at the Pentagon on the President's Command Post. His final assignment was at NORAD in Cheyenne Mountain, CO.

After Dale's Air Force retirement, he and his wife owned a hardware store in Jetmore, KS, for four years. He then moved to Sedalia and was a Shelter Insurance claims adjuster, retiring in 1992. After his second retirement, he helped his son-in-law, Sam, on the farm in Green Ridge for many years. In Dale's free time, he and Colleen road a Honda Gold Wing throughout all the 48 states, lower Canadian Provinces, and Newfoundland. Dale was an avid woodworker, creating intarsia artwork, hundreds of Christmas ornaments, and scroll saw pieces.

Dale is survived by a son, Mike Reed and his wife Janice of Ft. Worth, TX, and a daughter, Nancey Dove and her husband Sam of Green Ridge; seven grandchildren, Jessica Ogle, Samantha Gaver (Kevin), Eric Reed (Grace), Libby Angle (Nate), Ryan Dove, Emily Dove, and Logan Dove; and two great-grandchildren, Billy Ogle and Stetson Reed Angle; a sister, Grace Ellen Schiel of Conroe, TX; and a sister-in-law, Nancy Werner of McLoud, OK; and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

In addition to his wife and parents, Dale was preceded in death by a daughter, Missy Leet; a brother, George Reed; a twin brother, Gail Reed; and a sister, Mary Lee Nielson.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at Rea Funeral Chapel, 3510 W. 16th St., with pastors Randy and Dianna Marcum officiating.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the chapel.

Dale's body was donated to the KU Medical Center Gift of Body Program. Burial of the cremains will be held at a later date in Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore, KS.

Honorary bearers will be the Friday morning coffee club, James Allen and Dena Fleming, Don and Mary Schroeder, Joe and Cindy Wasson, Pat Weir, and Air Force colleague Ken Lyons.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Green Ridge Rec Center, which will be used to purchase new chairs.