James Allen Reed

Cdr. James Allen Reed, USNR Retired, of Orange Park, Florida, passed peacefully at Community Hospice Hadlow Center, Jacksonville, on January 1, 2021. Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1928, to Ruth Elizabeth (Holbrook) Reed and Francis Paine Reed, James graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Electrical Engineering. Shortly after graduation he joined the U.S. Navy. He served as ordinance officer on the USS Princeton during the Korean War. After the war, he trained as a pilot on seaplanes in Corpus Christi, Texas. He moved to Jacksonville to join VP-16 “War Eagles" as a P-2 Neptune pilot, performing maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare support. He later was an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Whiting Field in Milton, Florida. A graduate of the Defense Intelligence School, he served as an ELINT Officer at NAS Ford Island, Hawaii. After working in Naval Intelligence at NAS Atlanta, Cdr. Reed transferred to South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He then served as Commanding Officer of the Naval Unit at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colorado, and training director of the Intelligence school there. From Colorado, he returned to NAS Jacksonville. He retired as Vice Commander, Naval Station Mayport, FL, in 1973. After retiring from the Navy with 22 years’ service, James earned an MBA and an MPA from University of North Florida. He sold real estate and pursued his tennis passion.

James is survived by his wife of 64 years, Martha Louise (Kirkland) Reed, son Stephen Douglas Reed (Catherine Reed), daughter Jennifer Reed Cox, daughter Elizabeth Jane Reed, grandchildren Blanche Joslin (Alize Hand), Dylan Joslin, Mitchell Joslin (Alyssa Edney), Sarah Elizabeth Bird, Stephanie Jane Bird, Jingyi (Teresa) Sun, two great-grandchildren, and one Australian Cattle Dog–Missy.

He will be remembered as a kind and gentle man who loved his wife, children, and dogs.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his infant son Francis, and his brother, Walter Holbrook Reed.

His ashes will lie at rest at the Jacksonville National Cemetery.