Ronald W. "Ron" Reed

Ronald W. “Ron” Reed, 97, of Columbia City, passed away peacefully at 7:09 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the home of his daughter in Zionsville.

Born on September 1, 1928, in Miami County, Indiana, he was the eleventh child of twelve born to the late Henry S. and Pearl M. (Brooks) Reed. Growing up near Wabash, Ron completed Twelve Mile Elementary School and graduated from Linlawn High School.

Joining the U.S. Navy on May 14, 1946, he served during WWII. He was honorably discharged on March 8, 1948.

Returning to the Wabash area, he coached basketball and baseball for Whites Institute. Meeting his future wife at one of the games, he married Lora N. “Pat” Schemmer on November 24, 1949. They made their home in Wabash. Ron became a sales agent for New York Life Insurance Company. In 1957, Ron earned a bachelor’s degree from Manchester College. After accepting a management position with Farm Bureau Insurance, the family moved to Columbia City, where Ron managed the local office. Pat died on August 5, 2017.

In 1968, Ron joined Rick Kiester and formed the Reed-Kiester Insurance Agency; in 1974, he became the Ron Reed Insurance Agency, retiring in 1991. Ron’s success was rooted in his care for his clients. He invested in the people he served, making sure they got the products needed and the follow-up care they deserved.

The consummate coach, Ron enjoyed watching Columbia City High School athletics and analyzing their play. He was also a Chicago Cubs fan. He liked to play basketball, golf, and bowling. He was fond of a good game of euchre or just sitting at home enjoying nature. He was a member of the Columbia City United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post 98, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the former Eagles Club.

Surviving are three daughters, Jan Carol (Alan) Boggs of Columbia City, Cindy Jane (Bill) Bauer of Zionsville, and Nancy May (Greg) Johnson of Bryan, Ohio; seven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his eleven siblings, Robert Reed, Beulah Vinson, Cleve Reed, Leonard Reed, Marvin Reed, Dale Reed, Ilene Tabler, Ray Reed, Jesse Reed, Bonnie Dale, and Fred Reed.

The funeral service is 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug 29th) at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial is at the South Park Annex Cemetery. Visitation is from 11 a.m. until the funeral service Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorials in Ron’s honor are to the Pat & Ron Reed Scholarship for Visual Arts c/o the Whitley County Community Foundation.

The family wishes to convey their gratitude for the excellent care and comfort provided by the Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center,  A Joyous Kare, and Heart to Heart Hospice.