Elmo Reynolds Jr.'s Obituary
Elmo Reynolds, Jr (Sonny) …...October 29th ,1923- June 5th, 2022
World War II Navy Veteran Elmo Reynolds, Jr, (known by family and friends as “Sonny”) passed away Sunday June 5th, 2022, at the great age of 99 years and 7 months. His goal was to live to 100 years, and he gave it a gallant attempt.
Elmo was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, raised in the country on a small family farm until middle school. He loved to hike railroad trellis for hours, looking for any great find he may be able to collect. Many times, he mentioned walking to school with a “hot baked potato” in his pockets to keep his hands warm and with the added benefit of already having his lunch prepared. (About a four-mile walk) His favorite pet was “Buddy…. the pet goat”
He moved to the city in Pine Bluff and took up a love for woodworking in high school. As many brave young men were during this time, he was drafted on his 18th birthday and never got to complete his senior year.
He served on the USS Franklin Bell transport ship in all the major Pacific Fleet invasions in WWII and was an electrician “Second class” and volunteered for the duties no one else would take. Including climbing to the top of the ships mast in a typhoon to change a navigational light bulb at the top of the mast while the ship was in 10–15-foot swells. As most of The Greatest Generation observed, he was surrounded by mass casualties, death, and horrific life experiences at such a tender age of 18-22 years old. More often than he spoke about the hardships, he spoke about how proud he was to have contributed to allowing freedom for others and being able-bodied enough to “his part”. For this our family and our Nation should be ever indebted to him and his fellow service members for freedoms we now have.
Things little known about him include he was an expert wood craftsman, an avid gardener, an avid fisherman, a ball room dancer, a very specialty “book binder” crafting handmade leather-bound restorations, a great electrician and even made “from scratch” crystal radios sets. As a kid he taught his son how to design, build and communicate via crude crystal radios with people as far away as Chile and Antarctica.
Truly a “school of hard knocks man” he was beloved and is survived by his oldest child, Patricia Brashear, her husband Paul, their two children Michael Brashear and Alicia Brashear Savage and 3 great grandchildren Lexi Brashear, Molly Brashear and Katie Savage. His only son Glen Reynolds his wife Sandy and their children Courtney Reynolds Sanford and Caitlin Reynolds Fitzgerald. He was preceded in death by his lovely wife Marie for 63 years. They met while working together at S.C. Toof printing company and had a very close relationship during their marriage with great respect and admiration for each other.
To our wonderful Father…. God speed and Peace be with you.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
99-040 Kauhale St. #2079
Alea, HI 96701 Attn: Superintendent
Visitation will be Friday June 10th from 1:30-2:30 with a service following at 2:30 at Memorial Park Funeral Home 5668 Poplar Ave
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