Lewis F. “Pap” Reynolds

Lewis F. “Pap” Reynolds, 92, of Clearwater, FL, passed away on March 10, 2015, at Pacifica Senior Living of Belleair.  He was born in Ralston, PA and moved to Florida in 1983 from Williamsport, PA.

During World War II, he served his country in the US Army, spending three years in the European Theater.  He entered the service on December 22, 1942.  After boot camp, he boarded the S.S. Mariposa and headed for Holland via Iceland.  His gun was registered in Herlene, Holland making him combat ready.  He began as a Private and was promoted to Private First Class as an Ammunition Handler.  He fought to the completion of his first tour, through his second tour in Belgium and his third tour in Germany, until he was just forty miles from Berlin when the war ended.  His Discharge Papers show he saw action in France, the Rhineland and Central Europe.

His unit lost their machine gunner and the Captain offered the position to Pap, who reluctantly settled into the new position.  He was injured, and nearly died in a tragic accident, when an ammunition truck carrying a huge amount of ammunition and ordinance turned over on top of him.  He spent time in a number of hospitals before being able to rejoin his unit.

One of the family’s favorite stories is that of a little German girl.  When he first came into Germany, he was assigned to search bunkers to be sure there were no enemy soldiers hiding in them.  One day, as he was inspecting a bunker, he sensed someone up ahead and demanded they show themselves.  The only response was faint crying.  He cautiously approached only to find a wide-eyed, hungry, small girl hiding in fear of her life.  He tried to comfort her.  He gave her his food and water and told her to stay where she was.  He went to find more food and brought as much as he could get his hands on into the bunker and left it with her.  Months later, he had a chance to go back to that town.  The girl recognized him and told her parents.  The whole town came out to greet and thank him for his kindness.  This kind side of Pap was repeated many times over the course of his life.

He was discharged from the Army on December 5, 1945.  During his time in the service, he received a Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with three Bronze Battle Stars and the Victory Medal.

Upon returning from the war, he returned to his native Pennsylvania and went to work for Bethlehem Steel.  He was a machinist and spent his entire working career there, retiring in the late 1970’s.  He was baptized in his home in 1957 by the pastor of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church.  Just as he demonstrated his compassion to the little German girl, he continued to reach out and help people during the remainder of his life.  He assisted the American Indians on their reservations and supported the St. Jude Children’s’ Hospital.  He and his wife once saw a woman without a coat walking in the cold weather.  They went to a thrift store, bought a coat and then went back to find her and give her the coat.  He took pride in helping kids at Christmas.

Pap enjoyed gardening, fishing, and poetry.  Some his favorite things were tulips, McDonald’s fries and coffee and Arby’s Roast Beef sandwiches.  He also made the best peanut butter fudge. Pap’s favorite holiday was Christmas.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leroy and May Reynolds; his wife of 56 years, Betty Jane; brothers, Calvin, Dick, Gene and Bill; sister, Grace Ayers; and grandson, Donald Devine.  He is survived by his daughter, Sandra Conti of Sorrento, FL; sister, Maime Phillips of Sarasota, FL; grandchildren, Stephanie Holtsclaw, Dwayne Devine and Tracy Beardsley; eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and many, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Pap will be interred with Military Honors at Florida National Cemetery with his wife on Friday, March 30, 2015, at 2:00PM

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