Ronald Dwight Reed died Thursday, March 4 at Hazel Hawkins
Memorial Hospital in Hollister after a lengthy illness. He was
58.
Ronald Dwight Reed died Thursday, March 4 at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital in Hollister after a lengthy illness. He was 58.
He was born in San Francisco to Dwight and Betty Reed. Soon after, the family moved to Los Gatos, where he attended Los Gatos High School. He excelled in sports and was known as an excellent shot on the basketball court.
During high school he acquired the nickname “Smokey.”
After high school he spent a couple of years in the Marine reserves and then started working in the grocery business for Fry’s Market in Los Gatos.
He worked his way up from bagger to checker, and then to produce manager. He then managed 7-Elevens for the Southern Corp.
He acquired his own 7-Eleven franchise on Story and King roads in San Jose.
Later in his life, he began working at the Bears bar in San Jose, where he became a manager. He started the profitable check cashing feature that continues there today.
He was an avid bowler and pool player, and his hobbies included a passion for classic cars, having owned several throughout his life.
He had a great sense of humor and loved to tell and hear jokes and share in laughs.
He is survived by his mother Betty Reed and brothers Greg and Mike Reed, all of Hollister.
Memorial services will be held Friday at 3:30 p.m. in the chapel of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
Cremation and inurnment are under the direction of Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Crematory in Hollister.
