Floyd Reynolds

Floyd A. Reynolds Sr., 66, a resident of Neodesha died Sunday, August 27, 2006 at the Select Specialty Hospital in Wichita. He was born September 11, 1939 at Altoona, Kansas to Joseph James and Thelma Delores (Whisler) Reynolds. He received his education in the Altoona schools and Bethany College at Lindsborg, Kansas, received an Associate of Arts degree from Neosho County Community Junior College (graduating with honors) at Chanute, Kansas and a Bachelor of General Studies degree from Kansas State College of Pittsburg, Kansas. He was married to Ramona Gayle Paget on August 31, 1958 in Neodesha. Floyd began working at the age of nine running errands and doing odd jobs, evolving over nine years to assistant manager in his great-uncle Clint Reynolds' businesses in Altoona, including Reynolds Lumber Yard, farms, rental houses and new construction. After graduation, he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to accept the position of assistant manager with Long Bell Lumber. He next worked as a sheetmetal worker for Boeing Airplane in Wichita. Reynolds enlisted in the United States Air Force, becoming a radio relay equipment repairman--guided missle maintenance technician from January 18, 1958 to January 18, 1962, mostly in Goose Bay, Labrador, later being assigned to Schilling AFB in Salina, Kansas. After serving his tour, he became a heavy equipment operator for the board of education in Salina, later moving to Chanute, Kansas to work as a welder/machinist at Churchill, Inc. Next, he became assistant manager with the Chanute Ambulance Service. Following, he became a patrolman with the Chanute City Police Department, while continuing his college studies in police science and later did some assistant teaching there with the instructor, Lige Matlock, Chief of Police. A plaque was presented to him inscribed, "Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer presented to Floyd Reynolds by The Chanute Safari Jaycees." Floyd helped to set up the probation/parole department in Chanute and became its first officer for the municipal and city court. He also instigated citizen committees for crime prevention and would also take a stand wherever there were social injustices. Floyd Reynolds loved police work but felt a greater need to prevent crime and to help those who were less fortunate, leading him to change his police science goal to social work studies. After graduation, he accepted a social work position with the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in Coffeyville, Kansas, working with abused/neglected children and juvenile delinquents-some of whom sent letters of gratitude to him for helping them to turn their lives around. Later on, he took the position of medical reviewer, investigating nursing homes throughout Kansas, then he transferred to Kansas State Health and Environment Department out of Wichita, investigating mental institutions all over Kansas. He retired in January 2006. Organizations the he had belonged to included Benevolent and Paternal Order of Elk, American Legion, Chanute Safari Jaycees, American Federation of Police, Neosho County Council on Crime and Delinquency, Kansas Council on Crime and Delinquency, American Historical Society, NRA. An avid gardener, Floyd spent many evenings growing flowers and foods which led him and his wife, Ramona, into purchasing an orchard and truck farm at Thayer, Kansas, where they and their son spent their evenings after work and weekends, and then selling their produce out of their garage or deliverling to businesses. Trap and skeet shooting was among his hobbies and he enjyed making replica flintlock muzzle loading guns and reloading his own ammo. Floyd also raised and trained Appaloosa and quarter horses as he and Ramona grew up around and loved horses. He leaves survivors: a wife of the home, Ramona G. (Paget) Reynolds; a son and spouse, Floyd Allen and Hoa (Ho) Reynolds II; 3 grandchildren and spouses, Floyd Allen Reynolds III, Quoc Visan and Hang (Le) Ho and Hai-Ngoc (Ho) Pham; 6 great grandchildren, Dyllon Eugene, Floyd Allen IV, Bree Nichol, Ashley Dawn and Joseph Wayne Reynolds and Alex Tai Ho; his mother, Thelma Delores (Whisler) Reynolds; 4 siblings and spouses, Earl and Marilyn Ann (Reynolds) Creel, Bob and Barbara June (Reynolds) Burgan, C.L. "Russ" and Rhonda Marie (Reynolds) Taylor, Stanley and Julie (Richards) Reynolds. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph James Lewis Reynolds. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 2, 2006 at Timmons Chapel in Fredonia. Burial will be in the Altoona Cemetery. A memorial has been established in his name with the Neodesha Bible Baptist Church or the American Heart Association and may be sent to the funeral home.