Paul Gene Reeves

Paul Gene Reeves, USAF veteran, of Newcastle, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2022, in the presence of family. He was born on October 8, 1934 in his grandparent's farm house southeast of Allen OK, to Henry Nevelle and Loise (Emerson) Reeves and was named after Paul Dean, a pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals, who was pitching game six in the World Series. Paul attended Allen Grade School before moving to Long Beach CA where he attended Stephens Junior High School and enjoyed seeing the Spruce Goose taxi out on Long Beach Harbor to make its maiden flight with Howard Hughes. He also sold newspapers at the Terminal Island Naval Ship Yard and boarded all types of ships frequently speaking with merchant marines. He and his parents returned to Allen OK in 1950 where he graduated Allen High School in 1952. Paul had joined the Allen National Guard as a Junior in High School and then enlisted in the US Air Force in August 1952, graduating at the top of his electronics class and attending airborne radar school at Lowry AFB in Denver CO. He worked on the F-86D Sabre Interceptor radar and began working on Test Equipment while assigned to Perrin AFB, Sherman TX. He was a great problem solver and came up with new ways to calibrate unique pieces of equipment for the Air Force. Paul received an Honorable Discharge from the 3554th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron as an Airman First Class in 1956 with a National Defense Service Medal and Good Conduct Medal. He continued to work for the Air Force in the Calibration Lab as a civilian until 1971 when he moved to Newcastle OK to work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in OKC. There he worked in the Depot Metrology Unit serving the FAA as an integral part of the FAA Depot shops to assure measurement accuracy and reliability of electronic equipment needed to support the National Airspace. He retired in August of 1991 with almost 40 years of federal service when the FAA contracted out his department. Being from the generation who knew firsthand the cost of Liberty and Freedom, supporting our nation and those who served was very important to him. He felt one way to do that was to support your local schools and community. Until his health prevented his attendance, you could count on him to attend the Newcastle city council meetings. He proudly served on the Newcastle Planning Committee in the 1980's and thoroughly enjoyed the time he served as the President and Board Member on the McClain-Grady County EMS from 2002 to 2006. He was always quick to pull out his wallet if there was a school fundraiser, and the local Girl Scouts could count on him to purchase cases of cookies to share with others. Paul's ingenuity and mechanical aptitude made him the "go to" person to for family and friends for anything that needed repair. His skill in running the calibration labs spilled over into his private life, and you could count on him having a notebook of all the needed information on equipment he was repairing, cars, or medical records and medication lists. He was well known for keeping a spreadsheet of medical information which his doctors stated they wished their other patients would do the same. Paul doted on his grandchildren and great grandchildren who affectionately called him Papaw, and his favorite activity was spending time with his family. Known by all to be extremely honest patient, kind, gentle, fair, loving and his word was golden. He was an excellent life coach, mentor, source of encouragement, counselor and loving patriarch who taught us all to love unconditionally. Besides attending his children's sporting events and school activities, he loved fishing and gardening. After retirement, he enjoyed some traveling, going to museums and performing research at the Oklahoma Historical Society Research Center which enabled him to capture key information and create genealogy notebooks for our family. Paul was preceded in death by his parents Henry Nevelle Reeves on December 21, 1996 and Lois Elaine (Emerson) Reeves on April 26, 1999. He lost his beloved spouse and soulmate of 54 years, Theda Nell (Presser) Reeves, on June 3, 2011. Paul is survived by his daughters Micki Jo (Reeves) Daily of Newcastle and Danna D Wolf and husband Jerald of Oklahoma City; son Richard Glenn Reeves and wife Sandra of Tuttle; grandchildren Russell Daily of Newcastle; Mindi (Daily) Stucks and husband Tyler of Newcastle; Ricky Reeves of Yukon; Breanna (Reeves) Elliott and husband Colt of Woodward; Shiann Reeves of Blanchard; Brenton Wolf of Oklahoma City; and Marissa (Wolf) England and husband Ryan of Oklahoma City; 16 great grandchildren; Aunt Veda (Reeves) Hepner; 'sister-in-law Rubye Langley and husband Frank of Azle, TX; nephews Raymond Gary Moore and wife Caryn of Bedford, TX, Dick Moore of Euless, TX and Terry Don Moore of Euless, TX.' and many beloved cousins. Paul also cherished his special friendships with the Allen High School Class of 1952 Alumni. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Visitation will be at the Wilson-Little Funeral Home, 3132 Tri City Ave, Newcastle, OK from 12pm to 7pm on Monday, January 31, 2022. Services celebrating Paul's life will be at 10am on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at the Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 1118 S Sara Rd, Blanchard, OK, officiated by Pastor Kelly Russell. Interment will follow at Blanchard Cemetery, Blanchard OK. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Tri City Hope Center in Newcastle, OK. The family would like to thank the McClain-Grady County EMS for their many quick responses, the Newcastle Fire Department, and the loving and caring staff at the Hospice House at 13920 Quailbrook Drive, Oklahoma City, OK.

Paul Gene Reeves

October 8, 1934 - January 27, 2022