San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
John Stephen Reedy
John Stephen Reedy passed into the loving arms of our Lord on Tuesday, the 9th of May 2023 after a lengthy battle with bladder cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.
Born in 1948 in Phoenix, Arizona, John loved regaling his children and friends with stories of his childhood in the valley; simpler times spent with paper routes, chocolate milk out of paper cartons, hotel pool hopping during scorching Arizona summers, drive-in movie theaters, playing cards and clothespins on bicycle tires, boy scouts and carefree days with friends that saw bicycles tossed onto lawns long after the sun disappeared behind Camelback Mountain. Friends always played an important role in John’s life. A proud ASU graduate, John entered the US Airforce in 1971. During Missile training school at Vandenberg AFB in Santa Barbara County, CA, John met a young, blond California teacher who would become his wife and the love of his life. John was instantly taken with Lea’s energy, intelligence and found himself captivated by the fact that she kept bread in the refrigerator. For years, John would insist Lea’s ability to make the most amazing sandwiches he ever had ultimately won his heart. The loving couple were married in Monterey, California on June 17, 1973. They traveled early in John’s military career, and as a Missileer, John was assigned to the
508th Strategic Missile Squadron at Whiteman AFB, Missouri. After a few years as “we”, John and Lea became “they” with the birth of their first son, Jason, in 1977, and their second son, Nathan, in 1980. Opportunity for military travel soon took “them” to Japan and saw John become Deputy Director, PACAF Contracting Center, Japan. After several years, John took the family back to the states with assignments in California and then San Antonio. People like to say, “I wasn’t born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could”. After years moving in the military, John and Lea found a home in San Antonio and soon decided that
May 9, 2023
military retirement would see them really plant roots in Texas. In 1991, John retired from the US Air Force as a Lt. Colonel stationed at Randolph AFB. For several years he worked in various fields in the private sector, but eventually settled in as a civilian employee in the 410th Contracting Support Brigade at Fort Sam Houston. In 2018, retirement beckoned again, and John ended his career as a government employee. With true retirement, he enjoyed sleeping in late, playing and watching golf and ending each day completing the newspaper game page word jumble with Lea and competing to see who held the title as sudoku puzzle champion.
John was passionate about many things in his life. As an athlete, John was a gifted shotputter in early days. He enjoyed baseball, ping pong, pickleball, water and snow skiing, and while in Japan, trips on the bullet train to beautiful skiing vistas became a norm. But of all sports, anyone who knew John, even casually, knew that he loved the game of golf. John never missed a chance to drive a ball, walk a course, volunteer at a PGA event or tune into a golf game on television. The sound of PGA announcers and golf crowds became the white noise of the Reedy household. John loved music! While on a road trip with his youngest son, John stopped at a store to buy “The Mama’s and The Papa’s Greatest Hits”, suggesting that the trip wouldn’t be complete without this most important of introductions. After his passing, a look through his desk uncovered a personal favorite song list titled, “Songs to Remember”. They include - You Belong to Me by Carly Simon, She’s an Easy Lover by Genesis, I’ll Keep Holding On by Simply Red and Like a Rock by Bob Seager. John was also an animal lover who wouldn’t shy from telling you why his pup, Beso, was the sweetest, smartest “Porkie” (Pomeranian / Yorkie) around. Above all things, however, John loved his family. He was fiercely proud of his sons, their partners, the lives they built and all they accomplished. John loved his wife Lea. After 50 years of marriage, John still commented on Lea’s beauty and intelligence - and her ability to make the best sandwiches he’d ever had (though the bread is no longer kept in the refrigerator).
John will be remembered for so many things by so many people. From his sons, John will be remembered as a strong man with a soft, loving soul that would do anything for his children. As a friend, John was gracious and giving. As a grandfather, John was eager to share his love of golf and all sports with his boys. As a brother to Diane and school friend to many, he loved to share his memories of growing up in Phoenix. As a husband, he will be remembered for his love, support and unwavering loyalty.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Lea Meredith Reedy; sons Jason (wife Angelica Hesles Reedy) and Nathan Reedy (partner Joshua Espinedo); sister, Diane Hochstetler (husband
John will be interred at the National Cemetery at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on Friday, the 16th of June at 11:15 AM. The interment will see a brief ceremony at “Shelter 2” followed by a procession to his final resting place within the grounds. A reception of remembrance and a celebration of life will be held during John’s October birth month. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution celebrating one of John’s many passions: First Tee Golf Program for Youth, the San Antonio Food Bank or the ASPCA.