John Preston "Pete" Reed

MILTON – John P. “Pete” Reed, III, entered eternity on Thursday, July 29, 2021. He passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Pete had battled cancer with faith, hope and determination, never giving in to the disease, always seeing the glass "half full". Pete was born at Milford Memorial Hospital on May 27, 1950, to the late John P. Jr. and Mary S. Reed. He was a graduate of Milton High School, Class of 1968. After graduation, he served faithfully and honorably in the US Air Force during the Vietnam era. Those four years were the only time Pete did not live on the beloved Reed Family Farm, learning early to appreciate the beauty of God's creation from his father and grandfather, farm land and the protection of it was a priority. Pete fought hard to maintain the beauty of the countryside in Sussex County. Pete was an avid sportsman, he loved hunting, trapping, crabbing and taught those skills to any young person who would jump in his boat to listen to his wealth of knowledge about the area, and stories handed down by generations of Reed family members. Pete loved like Jesus; he wasn't concerned about your nationality, gender, age, status, saint or sinner, rich or poor, if you took time to listen, you had a friend, not a judge. Pete was REAL in every sense of the word. Pete retired after 30 years of service to the Delaware Department of Transportation and then began work with Sposato Landscaping Service. The last 10 yrs. he and his wife Joan enjoyed vacation time at their home in Charleston, SC and then at their home in Cape Coral, FL. Pete is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 30 years, Joan M. Reed; two sons, Bradford E. Reed, his companion Dennisse, and their daughter Vannessa, Bryan E. Reed, and his companion Erika of Milton; a sister, Ann R. Clendaniel of St. Augustine, FL; two stepsons, Stephen Bunting, his companion Kaitlin, and their daughter Makenna of Plantation, FL, and Ryan Bunting, his companion Sara, and their son Braylon of Milton. The family would like to extended their sincere thanks and appreciation for the care that they, and Pete, received from Seasons Hospice, especially his nurse Missy. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, August 1, 2021 in the chapel of Short Funeral Services, 416 Federal Street, Milton, De. A time of visitation for family and friends will begin at 1:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Milton. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to Tunnell Cancer Center, c/o Beebe Medical Foundation, 902 Savannah Road, Lewes, Del 19958 or Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, 220 Continental Drive, Suite 407, Newark, Del 19713.