Edith Louise Collins Reed passed away peacefully of natural causes in her sleep and at her home in Blue Ridge Shores at Lake Louisa, Louisa, Va., on Aug. 26, 2022. She was just two months shy of her 99th birthday, having been born on October 17, 1923.
She is survived by her daughter Terry Jo Ortiz (Jose) and son Mark J. Reed (Patricia) and grandchildren Lindsey V. Ortiz (Leslie), Matthew T. Reed, and Rebecca R. Moody (Michael) and three great grandchildren. Her son Lindsay Todd Reed predeceased her at age 18 (February 2, 1969) followed by her husband Frank Elgia Reed at age 72 (December 27, 1996).
She was born and raised on a local farm just outside of Christiansburg. She attended Christiansburg High School where she did well academically and participated in athletics. She received a degree in Medical Technology from Lees-McRae College.
While she was married, she resided in Roanoke, Richmond, Christiansburg, and Alexandria, Va. She was a longtime member and regularly attended the Presbyterian Church of Alexandria and other Protestant Churches wherever she resided.
Edith enjoyed singing and always participated in church choirs. She was generous with charitable contributions to religious organizations and to animal/wildlife conservation organizations (having been a lifelong lover of animals, especially dogs and cats). She also followed sports and was a dedicated fan of the Washington Redskins. She enjoyed singing, music, collecting coins and stamps, placing an occasional wager, playing bridge, and gardening. She had a “green thumb” and once said, “All I really ever want is to have a nice garden.”
She was employed for approximately 20 years by the Department of the Army at Ft. Myer in Arlington as a chemist maintaining, operating, and training others to operate complex blood analysis machines. She received numerous performance awards for excellence. She also was a licensed realtor and worked for the Veterans Administration and as a doctor’s aide.
The family expresses its appreciation for the support of the Blue Ridge Shores community and baptist church over the last 20 years and acknowledges and appreciates the loving care provided by Ms. Whitney Southall during the past four years.
A private ceremony will be held immediately prior to the planned interment at Sunset Cemetery, Christiansburg, circa mid-October, 2022.
