Foster Eugene Reed

Foster Eugene “Gene” Reed, 64, of West Lafayette peacefully passed away at home on Tuesday, October 5, at 2:32 pm. His death was as a result of his 24-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis.Born on June 8, 1940 in Wellston, Jackson County, Ohio, he was the only child of the late John F. Reed and Evalee J. (Brown) Reed of Coshocton.A 1958 graduate of Wellston High School, where he lettered in both football and basketball, Gene also attended Wisconsin State College before receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio University, Athens in 1963. He was a secondary school educator and football coach in Coshocton, Lancaster and Hillsboro during the mid 1960s. In the late 1960s, his professional focus shifted to the sales of textbooks to school districts throughout Eastern Ohio, a position he held until becoming disabled by MS in 1982.Gene was a member of the Black Diamond Masonic Lodge in Wellston and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge #1555 in Newcomerstown. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifelong avid football fan.In addition to his mother, Gene is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jean Ann (Campbell) Reed. Also surviving are a son Kirk E. (Corinna) Reed of West Lafayette, and daughter Lisa J. (David) Boyer of Coshocton. His grandsons US Navy Seabee Adam Reed Elder of Gulfport, Mississippi and Thor Jacob Reed of West Lafayette, and his granddaughters Jeanna Michelle Clark of Coshocton, Tyra Jo Reed and Hallie Marie Reed of West Lafayette also survive their Grandpa. He is also survived by his beloved aunt Helen Leach of Wellston and devoted brother-in-law & sister-in-law Roger & Susan Campbell of Ashville, Ohio.In addition to his father, Gene was preceded in death by his beloved uncle P.D. Leach, beloved aunt Ruth Reed, and loving grandmother Tamsy Brown.Private services will be held under the direction of the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home and Crematory in New Philadelphia with the Rev. James Woodring of the West Lafayette United Methodist Church officiating. In lieu of flowers or charitable donations, the family requests that you honor Gene’s memory by performing a random act of kindness.