OBITUARY: Frank Wallace "Wally" Reed

rank Wallace "Wally" Reed, 90, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield after a fall at his home.

Born in Chadron, Neb., to Frank D. Reed and Valeria Schaper, his family moved to California in 1939. Two brothers, Gerry and Tony, soon joined the Reed family.

He leaves his wife of 72 years, Janet Grimes Reed; his son Bill Reed and wife Vicky of Windermere, Fla.; his daughter Marta Reed and husband Curtis Harms of Bakersfield; his son Robert Reed of Bakersfield; six grandchildren: Noelle Reed Marion and husband Todd of South Hadley, Mass.; Stefani Reed Baker and husband Robert of France; Jason Reed of California; Tamarra Harms and husband Josh Beaulieu of Bakersfield; Addison Reed of Salt Lake City; and Tanner Reed Cervantes and husband Michael of Texas. He is also survived by nine great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, his brother Gerry and his son Donald.

Wally, the fourth generation of the Reed family in newspaper publishing, began working in the family business at the age of 11, after his father bought the Arvin Tiller in 1941. He helped operate the newspaper and commercial job presses.

Wally became a partner in the Arvin Tiller with his father in 1951. He became the sole owner of the Tiller in 1973 and continued to buy other local newspapers. In 1982, the business incorporated as ReedPrint Inc. and the group published the Arvin Tiller, the Lamont Reporter, the Shafter Press, the Wasco Tribune and the Delano Record.

Wally had an avid interest in flying his Cessna 210 plane and traveling around the world. He treasured his wife Janet of 72 years and all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Wally was an active member of the Arvin community and received an award in 2016 for being an Arvin Lions Club member for 70 years. The family-owned business, a newspaper and commercial printing company, was in business for 77 years.

Services will be held on Monday, June 8, at Greenlawn Memorial Park Southwest, 2739 Panama Lane, Bakersfield; visitation will be 1-2 p.m. and the memorial service at 2 p.m. in the Celebration of Life Center.