Richard Edward Reece's Obituary
Richard Edward Reece of Dallas was born July 27, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois, a son of the late Wanda H. Anask and Charles Franklin Reece, and passed away Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the age of 88. After graduating from Highland Park High School in 1944, he attended Texas A&M before serving in the U.S. Army. After WW II he graduated from SMU with a degree in economics and pursued graduate studies at Stanford University. In 1950 he returned to work in the family business, Reece Supply Company, a wholesale electric sign supply corporation. Upon the death of his father in 1961, he became president and CEO and led the expansion of the company to eight branches in several states. In 1996 the International Sign Association awarded him their highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, given to an individual who made outstanding contributions to the sign industry. He also served on the Board of Directors of the National Electric Sign Association (NESA) as well as Texas Sign Manufacturers Association (TSMA) boards and committees. Richard was a kind, generous man who was loved and appreciated by his family and many friends. He had a quick wit and wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed many outdoor activities, his favorites being hiking and snow skiing with his family on their many trips to Colorado. Richard was an avid reader with a fondness for mystery novels and subjects about history and science. He also walked and jogged often along White Rock Lake. Later in his life he delighted in traveling through all parts of Europe with his wife Jane. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeritza Jane Coville Reece; his daughters, Dr. Donna E. Reece Phillips (Dr. Gordon L.) of Toronto, Canada , and Barbara L. Utterback of Dallas; his sons, Wade D. Reece (Anne D.) of Dallas, and Richard T. Reece (Anna L.) of Southlake, Texas; eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his brother, Robert L. Reece and his wife, Shirley, one niece and two nephews. His sister, Joan Marie Stephenson of Houston, Texas preceded him in death. Richard (Dick) loved his family and the many friends and co-workers with whom he shared his life. He will be greatly missed. A memorial service is planned for family and friends at 2:30pm on Saturday, October 17, at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Baylor Health Care System Foundation at give.baylorhealth.com, or Planned Living Assistance Network of North Texas, Inc. at 13151 Emily Rd., Suite 240, Dallas, TX 75240. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Restland Funeral Home and Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243 at Restland Road.
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