Neil Allman Reed, 91, went to be with his Lord, having passed away in the company of his loving family at his home in Kingwood on June 26, 2023.
Neil was born on February 5, 1932, in Fellowsville, the son of the late Senator Archie Lee and Madge Morrow Reed.
He was the youngest of five children and was predeceased by his two sisters, Virginia Reed Lively of Walnut Creek, Calif., and Geraldine Reed Wolverton of Fayetteville, N.C.; and two brothers, Wallace Reed of Morgantown, and Alston Lee Reed, of West End, N.C.
Neil graduated from Fellowsville High School in 1950. He played on the school’s baseball and basketball team, the latter of which won the 1950 Preston County High School Basketball Tournament. His team’s accomplishment was perhaps Neil’s favorite victory.
After enrolling at WVU, Neil joined Kappa Alpha fraternity, the Arnold Air Society ROTC, and was honored by being named to Mountain Ranking Men’s Honorary.
While at WVU, he met and married his wife of 67 years, Joanne Hoff Pugh of Lillybrook in Raleigh County. He earned his B.S. in Business Administration in 1953 and later his law degree from the WVU College of Law in 1956.
Neil and Jan then went to San Antonio, Texas, where Neil served in the United States Air Force at Lackland AFB as an Airman 2nd Class. He later retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Captain.
In 1958 they returned to Preston County, where Neil began his law practice in Kingwood with Cramer Gibson.
Neil believed in public service, especially as a lawyer, serving two terms as Prosecuting Attorney, serving from 1965-73. He was later appointed Circuit Judge, serving from 1998-2001.
Neil also served several years as Preston County’s Mental Hygiene Commissioner and Assistant Prosecutor. He also served on the board of the Preston County Public Defender System.
He was a longtime member of the Preston County Bar and served on the West Virginia State Board of Governors.
Neil’s greatest professional joy came from serving his varied individual and business clients over a 57-year career, which included many years practicing with his daughter, Tammy Sisler, at their law office in Kingwood. Their law office was blessed with wonderful legal secretaries, Barbara Martin, Lucille Crogan, and Shirley Bolinger.
As a part of his legal practice, he was frequently involved in bringing economic development projects to fruition.
Through the Preston Business Development Corporation, working with friends like Albright National Bank President Max Buric, Neil helped to bring industry to Preston County including Sheidow Bronze, Diamond Shamrock Manganese Company, and the Kinney Shoe Plant.
Neil also served as counsel for the Preston Memorial Hospital for many years and was glad to see the new state-of-the-art hospital structure building go up.
He also helped secure funding for the Craig Civic Center and Kingwood Public Library and advocated for the Preston County public school system for many years. Neil was involved with a variety of other community activities, including serving in a variety of leadership positions at Wesley United Methodist Church.
He served for many years as Chairman of the Board at the Preston County Sheltered Workshop, where he was regularly inspired by the heart shown by the workshop’s clients, staff, and trustees.
He especially loved working with his Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department teammates, especially when they put on their annual Preston County Buckwheat Festival.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren, as well as WVU sports and travel with Jan and family. Neil and Jan enjoyed many years of square dancing with their friends in the Buckwheat Stompers.
In later years, he especially loved meeting at McDonald’s on weekday mornings with his Breakfast Club crew.
To say that Neil had a zest for life and a love for his many friends and clients would be an understatement.
Neil is survived by his three children and their spouses, Kim and Alan Clinkinbeard of Greenville, Ind., Tammy and Jeff Sisler of Kingwood, and Stephen and Leni Reed of Summerville, S.C.
He is also survived by six grandchildren, Dr. Zachary Sisler (Delilah), Alexandra (Richard) Shreve, Alicia (Mark) Flett, Andy (Kate) Clinkinbeard, Luis Clinkinbeard, and Ethan Neil Reed.
Additionally, he is survived by five great-grandchildren, Brady, Rosalie, Vivian, and Maxwell Sisler and Gabriella Wheatley.
The family would like to thank the wonderful health professionals who cared for Neil at Preston Memorial Hospital, Amedisys, and particularly his personal caregivers: Norma Costello, Esther Sanders, Melody Keller, Michelle Neff, and Nancy Cooley.
Neil was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joanne (Jan) Reed; his granddaughter, Marissa Clinkinbeard; and his grandson, Rusty Clinkinbeard.
Friends will be received at the Kingwood Funeral Home, 295 S. Price Street Kingwood from 2-7 p.m. on Thursday, June 29, and on Friday, June 30. The Funeral Service will be held at the Wesley United Methodist Church, at 107 High St., at 11 a.m. with Reverend Jonathan Nettles officiating. Interment will be in the Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood.
Donations can be made in Neil’s memory to the Preston County Sheltered Workshop and to the Wesley United Methodist Church. Kingwood Funeral Home is honored to serve the Reed family.
Condolences:
www.kingwoodfuneralhomewv.com
