Richard A. "Dickie" Reed

March 19, 2018

Richard A. Reed

ATHOL- Richard A. “Dickie” Reed, 74, of Central Street, died Friday, March 16, 2018 at Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol.

Born in Orange in the house his father built on February 21, 1944, he was a son of the late Earl H. and Dorothy M (Suleski) Reed and attended Orange schools.

Dickie joined the United States Navy on the Buddy System with his best friend, Bob May, and served on a missile cruiser and the USS Galveston for 4 years and then two additional years in the reserves. He was honorably discharged in 1967.

Richard was married to Linda (Crockett).

After returning from the service, Dickie was employed by the Rodney Hunt Company in Orange and the Shoe Shop before settling down at Joseph A. Mallet and Son Excavating in Athol where he was a heavy equipment operator for 30 years. Instead of retiring, he took on a new adventure with long time friend, Omer Dery, and opened up the Corner Pub in Athol which was open 11 years and has now been closed 4 years and to this day people can still be heard saying, “I miss the Corner Pub”.

Dickie enjoyed hunting and fishing with his buddies. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing softball for Adams Farm and the Dery Bar and when he wasn’t playing ball, you could find him cooking burgers and dogs at the ballpark.

He was one of the 12 founding members of the 25 Sportsman Club where he spent lots of time over the years putting on pig roasts and clambakes for everyone to enjoy, along with many other functions. Dickie was also a life member of the Franco-American Club and the Lithuanian Club, both of Athol, a life member of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Past Commander and life member of VFW Post 650.

Besides leaving his wife Linda, he is survived by a son, Richard Reed Jr. of Orange; daughters, Diana Beland and her husband, Michael, of Athol, and Marie Guilmette and her companion, Bob Dulmaine, of Athol; four grandchildren, Danielle Bunker of Gardner, Kristen Reed of Mashpee, Dylan Beland of Athol and Danny Dulmaine of Athol; five great grandchildren; brothers, Albert Reed of Walpole, New Hampshire and James Reed of Warwick; sisters, Carol Costa and her husband, Paul, and Glenda Lafountain and her husband, Floyd, all of Athol; many nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, Dickie was predeceased by a brother, Ronald Reed, and a baby sister, Shirley Reed.

There are no calling hours.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date and time at the 25 Sportsman’s Club in Athol.

Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is directing the arrangements.

You may offer your sympathy online at www.wittyfuneralhome.com

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