The Reverend Bob Reed—parish and pastoral minister, civil rights activist, lover of music and theater, and artisan of bread baking—died on 15 March 2017 at the age of 88.

George Robert Reed was born on 15 August 1928 to Beulah May Reed and William Harold Reed. In 1950 he received a B.A. in History from Lafayette College (Easton PA) and began a job with the federal government in Washington D.C. While there he discovered the Unitarian (now UU) Church of Arlington VA, eventually felt called to ministry, and in 1959 earned a B.D. from Meadville Lombard Theological School. While a student, he served part time as Director of RE to the First Universalist Church of Chicago (now All Souls Free Religious Fellowship).

Mr. Reed was ordained by his Arlington UU church on 27 September 1959 and stayed for another year. He then moved on to 35 years in parish ministry with service to the Unitarian (now UU) Church of Bloomington IL (1960-68), the First Unitarian Church of Louisville KY (1968-85), and finally pastoral ministry at what is now the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock NY (1985-94), after which time the Louisville congregation named him Minister Emeritus.

Outside the parish, the Rev’d Mr. Reed served multiple local and national roles in the UUMA. With his wife Jeanne he also led UUA Couples Enrichment weekend workshops for the Ohio Valley District (1978-81).

Bob Reed is survived by four sons Robert, Douglas, Jeffrey, and David, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service was scheduled for Saturday, 13 May 2017 at Louisville’s First Unitarian Church.