Bishop John P. Reid, 82, passed away at 7:52 p.m. Dec. 21, 2011, in Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, Fort Wayne.
He was born Nov. 27, 1929, in West Frankfort, Ill., to Wallace Sr. and Cecil Jane Lindsey Reid. On Feb. 14, 1951, in Plymouth, he married Mona Lou Faulkner, who died April 28, 1992.
He lived in Warsaw since 1955. He evangelized all over the United States until 1955; founded Gospel Tabernacle (now Touch of Life Church) in 1955 and served there until 1995, although retired he was serving in an advisory capacity within the church. In 1963, he began Voice of Faith Youth Camp (now Camp Destiny), Harford City, and served as founder/administrator until 2007. For decades he did the work of a missionary in Haiti where he founded “Reid’s Boys Home”, an orphanage for older boys where the goal was to teach The Word, English and a trade. Many of those young men came to American on an education visa and have built great lives. Some remain in Haiti as pastors, evangelists and Christian workers. Many churches were started as the result of the young men of “Reid Boys Home” and John Reid’s sacrifices for that establishment.
He was a 1948 graduate of West Frankfort High School and graduated from Tulsa Bible College in 1951. He was a great conversationalist, loved people and was very benevolent. He was a devoted husband to his wife, his one true love. His family was everything to him. He was totally involved in their activities. Even after the death of his wife, the entire family gathered for Sunday dinner. He was an avid Cardinal fan.
Surviving are Honey Lou (and spouse David) Neff and Marcie (and spouse the Rev. Rick) Cooper and Polly Miller, all of Warsaw; eight grandchildren: Shelley (and spouse George) Diaz, Veronica (and spouse Ryan) Helser, Lenny (and spouse Jessica) Neff, Jordan Cooper (and fiance Hayley Hudson) and Tyler and Sydni Miller, all of Warsaw; Monica (and spouse Daniel) Adkins, Pierceton; Priscilla (and spouse Kurt) Kammerer, Leesburg; 12 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bill (and spouse Margie) Reid, Austin, Texas, and Norman (and spouse Bertha) Reid, Knoxville, Tenn.; and a sister, Mary Wade, Kalamazoo, Mich. He also was preceded in death by two brothers, Wallace Jr. and Francis Reid.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Touch of Life Church, 2339 Old 30, Warsaw, officiated by the Rev. Rick Cooper of the church. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Warsaw.
Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church.
Titus Funeral Home, Warsaw, is in charge of arrangements.
***** Memorials may be made to Touch of Life Christian Academy, Desarmes, Haiti. Donations may be made through the church’s website at www.touchoflifechurch.com
Condolences may be sent via www.titusfuneralhome.com
