Obituary

Reese, Weldon Harold

Dr. Weldon Harold Reese, age 89, of Plainview, passed away on July 4, 2016.

The family will receive visitors tonight from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at Lemons Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at Parkview Baptist Church in Plainview with Rev. Steve Martin officiating. Interment will follow at Plainview Memorial Park under the care of Lemons Funeral Home.

Harold was born May 5, 1927, in Jayton, Texas to Odis Myers and Twillie Mae (Smith) Reese.

He attended Wayland Baptist College in 1944 for one year. After serving in the United States Army Medical Detachment, he returned to Wayland from 1946-1947. While there, he met and married Helen Barnhart in 1948. They remained married for over 32 years until her passing in 1980. Harold completed his bachelor's degree in 1952 from Wayland and his master's degree in 1961 at Texas Tech University.

Dr. Reese taught in the public schools of Dalhart, Abernathy and Plainview. He then moved to Corvallis, Oregon in 1962 and completed his PhD at Oregon State University in 1966 and then began teaching at Wayland that fall. He became the Chairman of the Division of Mathematics and Sciences in 1967 and stepped down in 1982. Dr. Reese taught courses in biology, agriculture and earth science. He was inducted in WBU's Hall of Honor in 2001. He is a life member of the Texas Academy of Science and Southwestern Association of Naturalists, sustaining member of Ecological Society of America, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, Alpha Chi, Alpha Zeta, and Phi Kappa Phi. Dr. Reese received a Distinguished Lifetime Service Award and has been recognized by numerous other professional organizations.

He was a member of Parkview Baptist Church and past president of the Whirlwind Sams Travel Association and Hi-Plains Gem and Mineral Society. His children remember him as someone never afraid to dream big dreams. He was an encourager who found great joy in helping his students. At times he was the first person to see a student's potential and would help them tap into that. He was a resourceful man who worked hard at farming and welding on his summers off from teaching at Wayland.

Harold married Carol Reeves Bell in 1981 and they remained married for over 20 years.

He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Garland Reese and Bennett Reese.

Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Sheryl Reese of Santa Fe, NM; his son, Hal Reese and wife Lori of Decatur and their son, Travis Reese and wife Jessilyn of Boston, Mass; 1 brother, Truman Reese and one sister, Patsy Scott. Dr. Reese is also survived by Carol's children, Rex Bell and wife Cheryl and Shannon Hart and husband Mark and grandchildren, Anna Marie, Austin, Lauren, Emily, Simon and Mason.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to Parkview Baptist Church.