Kenneth Reed

Kenneth M Reed of Cleveland, WV died May 15, 2011. He was born October 19, 1926 on a farm in Kentland, Indiana, the son of William and Florence O’Neil Reed, the fourth of eight children. He was admitted as a member of the Devine Word Missionaries in 1946 and was ordained a priest in 1953. He served as a high school teacher and vocational counselor until 1968. In that year he was appointed to Duxbury, MA, where he instituted the program Teens Encounter Christ in the Diocese of Boston. At the same time he served as youth minister in the congregational and Episcopal Churches of Duxbury. In 1973 he was assigned to West Virginia as a pastor of Saint Thomas Church in Braxton County and Saint Anne’s Church in Webster County. He was told that this assignment was given because he “was a farmer” and because of his experience in ecumenism. During his years as pastor he was an active member of the Ministerial Association in both counties. His skills in plumbing were helpful during summer work camps because of his assistance to the aged and needy in the area. He was chosen “Citizen of the Year” in Braxton County in 1978. After leaving the ministry he served as the home-school coordinator in Webster County, he earned a masters degree from WVU and taught at Hacker Valley Elementary School until retirement in 1992. For 32 years he was the loving husband of Carolyn Barbe Kopanko. Now he hopes that he will hear the merciful summons of God, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Along with his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his four brothers; Bernard Reed, Donald Reed, Bill Reed, and Bob Reed, and two stepchildren; Susan Sparks and Joseph Kopanko. Kenneth is survived by his wife; Carolyn Reed of Cleveland, WV, two stepsons; Ronald Kopanko, Hacker Valley, and James Kopanko, Raleigh, NC, two stepdaughters; Cynthia Brown, Bloomington, IN, and Kathleen Owens, Mathews, VA, one brother; Paul Reed, Lafayette, IN, two sisters; Rosie Pietron, Larimoure, ND, and Mary Lou Potts, Rensselaer, IN, nine step grandchildren and five step great-grandchildren. Services will be held Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at St. Anne’s Church in Webster Springs, WV at 10 AM., with Father Ro officiating. Burial will follow at Cutlip Cemetery in Hacker Valley. Friends may call on Monday, May 16, 2011 at Dodd & Reed Funeral Home in Webster Springs between the hours of 6 PM and 8PM. Online condolences can be made at doddreedfh.com.