George T. Reed - Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes & Crematory

George T. Reed

October 21, 1921 - December 3, 2014

George T. Reed, age 93, of Newark, DE, passed away peacefully on December 3, 2014.

He was born in 1921 in Birmingham, AL, to Marcus Carthron and Horace B. Reed, Sr. He grew up in Knoxville, TN.

George married Penelope Ann Nesbit at the Independent Presbyterian Church in Savannah, GA, in 1946.
He proudly served his country during WWII in the Army Air Corp for five years as an air traffic controller, first at Pope Field, NC, and then for three years in the Pacific theater combat zone of New Guinea.

After receiving his degree from the Art Institute of Chicago he worked for the Container Corporation in Chicago. During his graphic arts career he was the Art Director for the Atlanta Paper Company in Atlanta, GA; Art Director for the Randolph Paper Company in Richmond, VA; and Graphic Arts Superintendent for WestVaCo in Newark. His proudest accomplishment was his involvement in the creation and use of the Universal Product Code (UPC), or Bar Code, and named the term bar in bar code. While at WestVaCo George oversaw the printing of the bar code on a package that was the first to be scanned and sold at a grocery store. He was granted three patents for accurately printing bar codes on packages.

He was a ham radio operator (WA3RAU) and enjoyed Morse code, sending “chicken scratch” to other hams around the world. During his retirement years, he turned his keen eye of detail to pursuing genealogy of the Reed family and traveled to courthouses, libraries and graveyards to seek information. A self-taught musician, he was known to surprise his musically trained mother (and music teacher) by playing the violin during a recital at a young age and then in high school by flawlessly executing (in his eyes) a difficult piano piece at a school recital. The family always got giggles when telling these stories because he had a wonderful sense of humor.

George was predeceased by his parents and two brothers: H.B. Reed, Jr. and Edsel J. Reed.
He is survived by his wife of over 68 years Penelope and four children: Mark (Ginny) of West Chester, PA, Rebecca (Neil) Earnhardt of Melbourne, FL, Kirk (Cheryl) of Newark, and Neal of Newark; by one brother Rev. Marcus Carthron Reed of Chapel Hill, TN; by a sister-in-law Frances H. Reed of Atlanta, GA; and by grandchildren: Austin Reed, Erica Reed (Eric Marks), Ryan (Alyssa) Earnhardt, Megan (Jason) Picht, Rachel (Nathan) Kirk, Brandon (Deanna) Reed, Erin (Ryan) Szarlan, Elias Reed, Dan Nawrocki, and Steve (Kristen) Nawrocki, and by two great-grand sons.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am until 12 Noon on Friday morning, December 12, 2014 at the Bible Fellowship Church of Newark, 808 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE 19702, followed by a church service at Noon. Interment will follow in the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bible Fellowship Church of Newark at the address listed above.

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10 Condolences for George T. Reed

  • Penny and family, I am so very sorry for the pain of loss you are feeling right now. Thank God that the separation is only temporary. Because of what Jesus did, we have the hope of heaven. We are praying for you and your family for comfort. May God wrap His loving arms around you.

  • It was a privilege to have known him. I am sorry for your loss.

  • Brandon & Family so sorry for your loss. Heaven has gained another angel.

  • Dear Penny and family. We are thinking of all of you and send our love and hugs.

  • Dear Mrs, Reed and Family, We’re so sorry for the loss of your dear husband and Dad and praying for the Father’s comfort for you all.

  • Thank you Dr. Metzger for the kind words.

    We miss you as our doctor!

    Regards,

    Kirk

  • Our prayers are with you and your family at this very sad time, Glenn Thomas Carthron was my Grandfather and I see a good resemblance between him and your husband,, George. An extraordinary man in so many respects, his extensive genealogy work certainly will be of great benefit to many family members in the future. God bless you and your family.

  • We are deeply sorry to learn of your loss.

  • George and I were aacs radio operators at WZD Pope Field NC during WW2. George and I were good friends and we corresponded with each other after the war. We were both hams. I didn`t learn of Georges passing intel just recently. Another old friend that has passed over, See you on the other side George old friend.

  • I am sorry for your loss. George lived out a full life of family, service and many achievements. What an amazing person! George’s genealogy investigations helped me to learn that George and I are distant relatives. George’s gr-grandfather, Michael Ault Reed was a brother to my Isaac Reed, both sons of Abraham Reed. Through a Latter Day Saints genealogist we hired recently, we are learning how truly creative and thorough George’s investigations of the Reed family history were. Great job George! I hope that I can continue the good work that you started.
    If anyone of George’s family is continuing to study the Reed family history, I would love to connect with you.
    Take care,
    Michael Jackson Reed – Portland, Oregon