Obituary of Francis Rueben Reed

Francis Rueben Reed was born on July 31, 1936 near Sweetwater Creek, Allison, Wheeler County, Texas on the Reed Ranch and died December 15, 2019 in Dallas, Texas at the Boone-Pickens Faith Presbyterian Hospice Center. Francis was preceded in death by his grandparents, father Rueben Silas Reed, mother Melva Taylor-Reed and his son James Robert Reed. Francis is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 55 years, Jean Ann (English) Reed, his son Eric Reed, daughter in law Teresa, grandson Jack Reed and granddaughter Helen Reed. Francis is also survived by his older Sister, Cleada Mae Smith, and her children and grandchildren as well as by his brother, Johnny Reed, his wife Martha and their children and grandchildren. He also leaves behind many cousins, in-laws and relatives in Oklahoma, Texas and elsewhere. Francis was born on the Reed Ranch in the panhandle of Texas. He had platinum blond hair, deep blue eyes, rosy cheeks and a precious shy impish smile that stayed with him his whole life. As a small child he enjoyed exploring the ranch, riding ponies, and would often go off alone wandering and working on the ranch. As a result of the Depression, Francis developed a strong work ethic and wasted nothing. In 1952, Francis began working for Walter Sowders at Sowders Dental Lab in Elk City, Oklahoma. Both Walter and his wife Irma Sowders remained a great influence throughout his life. In 1954, Francis graduated from Elk City High School and moved to Dallas where he went to work for United Dental Lab, Prosthetics Dental Lab and Codesco-Duffin Dental Lab. Eventually, he opened Reed & Associates Dental Laboratory, which provided services to over 500 Dentists in Texas. He was certified in all areas of Dental Technology and doing lab work was a passion and love. Francis was inducted into the Dental Lab Hall of Fame for 50 years of service as a CDT (Certified Dental Technician). In addition to his own work, Francis designed laboratory workplaces for many Dental Schools, and even set up a Dental Lab in the Texas Department of Corrections to teach prisoners a skill they could use after their release. After moving to Dallas, Francis found a passion for drag racing. He was a Charter Member of National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), North Texas Timing Association (NTTA) and Rod Benders Car Club. He ran a ‘56 Black Bel Air Chevy Coupe, a maroon colored ‘32 Ford (Deuce) Coupe Gasser and a hand built A/FD (A fuel dragster and burned 90% Nitro Methane in his 392 Chrysler Hemi that was a carbureted blown engine). Francis set a world record (at that time) by breaking 180 mph in his A/FD in Houston, Texas after which Ed Iskedarian awarded him a sponsorship and world record jacket. He had 22 title wins and many trophies in his A Stock 1956 Chevy Bel Air Coupe. He also had a ‘40 Ford Coupe that he ran in a Stock car class. He was the A/FD Top Eliminator at the Fuel Gas Championship in Oklahoma City and won the 1958 National Fuel Gas Championship in his A/FD Isky-Wiend Special beating “Big Daddy” Don Garlits. Upon being drafted in the Army he convinced Iskedarian Cams and Wiend Manifolds to sponsor Bobby Langley’s Scorpion as a A/FD who was his great friend of more than 50 years. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1958 and trained at Camp Chaffee, Ft. Smith Arkansas working in the motor pool and dental lab. At Fort Wolters in Mineral Wells, Texas, he flew both fixed wing and helicopters. After leaving the Army, he continued flying and passed that love on to his sons. He was a pilot who was qualified and certified as a pilot to fly many different aircraft. In December 1963, his mother Melva introduced him to the love of his life Jean Ann English who was a school teacher in Duncan, Oklahoma. He married Jean Ann and they had two boys. Through their 55 years of marriage, they endured hardship and enjoyed triumph as a couple and whose love nurtured their boys. They have helped many friends and relatives over the years as a couple. Francis loved taking his youngest son James with the Dallas Blackhawks Hockey Travel Team where James and the team won many trophies and tournaments. He enjoyed watching Eric play baseball and was incredibly proud of Eric earning his Eagle Scout as Francis was, himself, a Life Scout. In later years he enjoyed watching his grandson Jack play basketball and football and his granddaughter Helen swim. Francis was not boastful of his talents and was often a fun prankster with his hunting buddies and friends. He loved to tell stories and jokes about life and his experiences with friends and family as well. He loved his English Pointer Bird Dogs and enjoyed a passion for quail hunting particularly on the Coleman Ranch in Archer County, Texas. Francis did things his way and on his terms in life. The Reed family is very grateful to have had Francis in their lives and appreciate all of his compassionate and wonderful friends who were true to he and the family over the years, especially Max and Darrell Ann Jones and their children David, Nicky and Julie. Francis will be missed by many but he is free as a bird in the wind and his spirit will surround us and the great memories of him will live with us every day. A Memorial Service for Francis will be held on January 11th, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ United Methodist Church, 2807 Valwood Ln., Farmers Branch, TX 75234. Pall Bearers: Dora Minyard, Mira Kochurovsky, Cora Daniels, Dr. Max Jones, Dr. Keith Cox, Milton Polkladnik, Stanley Beale, Eliseo “Cheo” Carbajal, Frederic Thuelier, Gary Carley, Dr. Chris Barnes, Monty Moon, Doug Baxter, Ron Fischell, Gary Box, David Ivy, George Milner III, Dale McDowell, Marilyn Burns, and Dr. Robert Browning with too many others to name. Pastor: Pastor Scott Holcomb-McLain, Rev. Honorary Pastor: Emery Burdine, CDT Honorary Pall Bearers: Rory Spikes, Paul “Shorty” Brown, Clifford E. English, Tom Gibbons, Fred Gibbons, Rob Reed, Johnny Reed, Brian Belinkski, Densel Reed, Dudley Miller, Tonya York and Kadin York. In lieu of flowers please send memorial donations made to Faith Presbyterian Hospice, 12477 Merit Drive, Dallas, TX 75251 or online at faithpreshospice.org “In Memory of Francis R. Reed.”