Robert “Bob” K. Reed

Robert K. Reed, Captain, U.S.N. (Ret.), known to his friends as Bob Reed, died on March 1, 2023.  Born on June 14, 1929, in Shanghai, China, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the Class of 1951.  Following graduation, he served in USS Chevalier (DDR805) and USS Saint Paul (CA73) in the Pacific during the Korean War, and before entering the graduate school at MIT in 1955.  After completing his naval engineering degrees at MIT in 1958, he entered submarine school at New London, and later qualified for his dolphins in USS Blackfin (SS322) at Pearl Harbor.

Captain Reed spent the remainder of his naval career as an engineering duty officer, specializing in the construction and repair of submarines.  He served at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (1960-65), and on the staff of Commander, Submarine Force, Pacific (1965-68).  From 1968 to 1972 he served at Naval Sea Systems Command, managing submarine construction programs.  Subsequently he served as Planning Officer at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (1972-74), and as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Groton, CT (1974-76).  He was Director of Ship Programs on the staff of Assistant Secretary of the Navy from 1976 until he retired from the Navy in September 1978.

Captain Reed worked as an engineering systems consultant for a number of years, becoming Senior Vice President with Harbridge House, Inc., and president of its engineering services subsidiary.  In 1986 he went back to school again, earning a Master of Science degree in 1988 from George Mason University in the field of Conflict Management.   Subsequently he founded the Northern Virginia Mediation Service and served as it’s Executive Director until 1991.

In 1992 he and his wife, Betty, moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where both were active in local civic and volunteer work.  Both were strong supporters of youth activities at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, and were active members of the Community Church of Vero Beach.  Bob Reed was former president of the Indian River Photo Club, and a board member of the Indian River Symphonic Association. Betty died in 2005. Their son, Kendall S. Reed, II died in 2013.  Their daughter, Nancy R. Petrash, and three grandchildren survive him.

Interment will be at the Community Church of Vero Beach. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the VNA and Hospice Foundation of Indian River County, 1110 35^th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960, or to the Betty Reed Memorial Endowment for Youth Programs, Vero Beach Museum of Art, 3001 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL 32963.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.