"I knew Al in Chicago working at McCook and later in Richmond where we carpooled and lived not far from one another. An energetic man who taught me how to play a modest game of tennis and a guy with tons of energy. It saddens me to think he is not on this earth any longer. My best to Sharon. I am now a widower as well so both Al and Karen are in different places but have left many memories behind...good ones. "
In loving memory of
Edwin Reynolds
December 31, 1969 - December 31, 1969
EDWIN ALAN REYNOLDS
Alan Reynolds passed on November 13, 2007. He was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was honored with the city's award of Most Outstanding Student Athlete and Scholar upon graduation from George Washington High School. He was awarded a complete athletic scholarship in football to The University of Virginia, where he was a member and President of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
He served in the US Army from June 1959 to January 1969 and was honorably discharged as a Reserve Commissioned Officer.
His first job was with Reynolds Metals Co., in 1960, where his career became focused on the Metals Distribution Industry. This moved him to Chicago, Richmond, VA, Dallas, Los Angeles and finally Indianapolis. While he was Materials Manager for Reynolds Aluminum Supply Company (RASCO), a division of Reynolds Metals Co., he developed a mathematical model that increased inventory turnover more frequently than the industry standard thought possible or had previously been done - without sacrificing customer service or delivery commitments. While Branch Manager he led the Dallas Branch from 19th place out of 21 facilities to 3rd highest in the RASCO Division in less than 12 months. After becoming Vice President of RASCO's Western Region he hired, trained, developed and exported personnel into management positions that included Marketing Management, General Management and Vice President of Sales. He grew the region from a $200 million business unit to $275 million.
Upon retiring from Reynolds Metals he became President of Edgecomb Metals, Non Ferrrous in Indianapolis in 2001. He retired from that job in 2003 to help develop and promote unique software programs that would address literacy and teach English for the service industries and disadvantaged. During this time, he also represented Canrack Corporation of Toronto in outside sales.
He was a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and was an active church member in every community in which he lived, serving in many capacities including Sunday School teacher, Executive Board member and Chair, President and First Reader. He was also instrumental in the building of Second Church of Christ, Scientist in Richmond, VA.
Al was an avid outdoors man and sportsman, and shared with his family his love of fishing, hunting, boating, tennis and golf. He was most proud of his three daughters, Holly Suzanne of Austin, TX, Wendy of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Samantha Brooke (and her husband Kris Nuttycombe) of Boulder, CO. and granddaughter Sophia Alexandra. He and his devoted wife of 46 years, Sharon, shared a deep commitment to God and each other in the raising of their family, their businesses and life.
The family deeply thanks the caregivers of Midland House, a Christian Science facility in Indianapolis.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Mary Baker Eddy Library for the Betterment of Humanity, PO Box 1507, Boston, MA 02117-1507, or one of Al's favorite causes listed on the funeral home's webpage: www.leppertmortuary.com
A memorial service will be Monday, Nov. 19 at 2 PM followed by a reception. The family will also be available to visit with beginning at 1 PM. Leppert Mortuary, 740 E. 86th St., Indianapolis.
________________________________________
.
Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room. Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived as fondly together is untouched, unchanged, Whatever we were to each other, that we are still, Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no difference in you tone. Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that I always was. Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow same as it ever was. There is absolute and unbroken continuity. What is this death but negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner. All is well.
Written by Harry Holland, Canon of St. Paul?s Cathedral, 1847-1918
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage.
Tributes
"I was NOT prepared for this news as I am sure none of the Reynolds clan were. I have had many tears today and seeing his picture didn't help any! There was not nearly enough time as a grandaddy. I am sure that Al graduated from "Earth's preparatory school" with high honors! Truly a man of principle with love for family, church and being out on the water. I am SO sorry that we were away when you last came through Richmond. Alan's love and wisdom will continue to guide each of you forever.Please know that i send my love and the cottage is yours to use any time."
"I love you, my dear friends, and am so sad that Alan is no longer here. I am praying that your grief not be more than you can bear and that you be surrounded with love. The following has given me comfort, warmth and peace, and I pass it on to you and hope it brings you the same. With great Love and many hugs.~~~~Do not stand at my grave and forever weep.I am not there; I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glints on snow.I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn"
"I knew Al through his passion for Golf. I was his Instructor for quite some time. I told him to never blame himself for those Missed Golf Shots, he should only blame me for not teaching him better.I know Al is now playing PAR Golf on the Heaven's best Courses.Pat "
"I met Alan when he first came to Richmond and had supper with us. I liked the guy and always thought of him as a "ball of energy on the way to success." I regret know to have known him better."
"My memory of Alan is one of a "ball of energy and gusto on the way to success." I saw little of him after he first came to Richmond, but I liked the guy a lot."
"As secretary to Robert Hedden at Richmond Headquarters, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Reynolds many times. He always had a kind word and was always a kind and gentle man. I am glad that I had the opportunity to meet him. Sometimes you are fortunate enough to meet people in life who enrich your life. Mr. Reynolds was such a man. I am sorry to hear of his passing. I will keep his family in my prayers."
"May God bless each of you as you deal with Alan's passing. His smile, his direct understanding of right and wrong, his love for his family, his enjoyment of life's pleasures, and his success in business were but a few of his attributes. We are better for having known him. Love, The Gibbs Family"
"We are so grateful that we were able to spend time with Alan on his recent trip to Oregon with Sharon to see family. It was a privilege to get to know Alan better and hear his stories about playing college sports and how he and Sharon met. In the brief time we got to spend with Alan it was clear that he was a kind and gentle man with a great deal of integrity. We hope you find some comfort knowing Alan had a good life, a loving family, and time to play golf. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you."
"We first met Mr Reynolds when he moved to Indianapolis and purchased the home next door to ours in 2001. He relocated to Indy with the bare minimum so we loaned him a few chairs, a lamp to read by and tried to provide some home cooked meals and companionship until Sharon, "his beautiful bride", arrived. Alan touched our lives and stepped right into father role with us. He improved our root beer BBQ chicken by suggesting we grill on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil to prevent charring, spent hours teaching us how to get our boat onto the lift using the neutral method (complete with moving diagram), called promptly when the dogs wandered to his yard, and always had a smile on his face and a good story to listen to as he made his way down to the lake to fly fish. Such an incredible man who we will miss dearly. Our prayers are with you Sharon."
"We are saddened by the news of Al's passing. We will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sharon and the family. As the neighbor across the street for about the past 6 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to have many discussions with Al out in the yard about numerous topics ranging from politics to business. I always walked away richer from the experience. Al was a man of great integrity and incredible energy. He was the great organizer on our cul de sac, including the sharing of the snowblower in his garage each Winter. Al lived life well. The Roberts family will miss him. "
"Al...I wish I could have said goodbye. As I sit hear in tears, I would like to share my thoughts. When I called on Tuesday to chat with you, I had no idea that you were ill. I am deeply touched by your passing. I so much appreciated working with you at Edgcomb...and again on your project after retirement. being your assistant, was a treat. I know that you truly cared about your employees...just by the countless times you asked about my children. Being a working single mother and having a caring executive to work for is every single mothers dream. For that alone...I thank you again!I will cherish the copy of the book that you gave me and that you so believed in.My thoughts and prayers go out to Sharon and your family.Denise O'Hara"
"We will both miss Al greatly. He and Sharon are true friends who have shared wonderful memories with us. We wil always remember Al's zest for living and enjoying life to the fullest. Whether work or golf, Al always lived each day fully. He worked hard, planned well and left little to question.Though he may not be with us as we wish, Al will always be with us. His memory will be with us throughout the remainder of our lives. Who else could get us to agree to move to LA? Only Al and Sharon would; we truly wish that could have happened.Our love and prayers are with Al and his family,Leslie and Frank Rizzo"
"I met Al, in 1989 when he hired me to outside sales position for South Texas. it was an absolute privlage to work with a man that had strong convictions. his smile was always was always dirrect and he was a fellow that would lead by example. This amn had deep integrity and values that he helped instue into myself. I take it as a blessing that I got to know this man as a boss and a friend. he was a total class act and Southern Gentalman. My thought and prayers are with you Sharon and the family. Michael P. Sykowski / Houston, Texas"
"Great wit, humor, and gentleman. "
"We all love Alan. We are so glad that we were able to spend Thanksgiving with him and Sheron. We always remember the "Colts" parties and cherish the time we have had together. Alan brought much joy and everlasting friendship to Denis, Gabe's father. It has been an honor knowing him. He is in our hearts."
"It was a special pleasure for Angela and me for Uncle Alan to come visit us this summer. We all appreciated his willingness -- even enthusiasm -- for making a long drive to visit us and a number of his friends.Alan and I spent the whole time talking and sharing. I am so grateful to have had the time to connect with him. We talked about our faith, about how important our families are to us and about entrepreneurship and pursuing dreams. I was especially appreciative of Alan's stories and recollections about my Dad and grandad, about Uncle Art and Aunt Blanche and catching up on the news about my cousins -- Holly, Wendy and Samantha Brooke.We visited the Biltmore house and walked and talked. Some of the tour was hard on his knees, I think, but he bore any discomfort with a quiet reserve and focused on the fascination of the place. (I likewise have back problems and followed his lead).This for me is a "snapshot" I will keep with me, a special treasure of our time together -- sharing stories, connecting intimately and appreciatively, enjoying the walk and the experience while managing the various pains and discomforts of the journey.I'll miss you Alan. Until we meet again. . ."
"I worked with Al who was 7 years older than me in the late 1960's at McCook and Al was a great teacher of what he must have thought of as a kindred spirit at work. He even taught me to play tennis after hours and it took me a year before I could take a set from Al. In Richmond from 71-73 we car pooled together daily to Corp. H.Q. and had some stories about that. He and I went on his 36' sportfisherman Marlin Fishing at Oregon Inlet with his brother in law who did not handle the swells at all well. I always liked Al and Sharon and the girls but was shocked here in 2011 going to the White Pages in Indianapolis to discover he had passed away four years ago now. You can't imagine how vibrant a man Al was and how shocking it is to think this world doesn't have him anymore. I looked it up to give him a call after all these years and was happy to see he'd been a success but darned sad to see he has gone. He was a principled man with high energy and always thinking. My very best to you, Sharon, and I hope your faith and your health are wonderful.Lance Pearson...now living just south of Richmond in Chester as a widower as well...Karen passed away after a long illness in 2008. I do enjoy my 76 Corvette on the race track and my boat along with my two greyhound girls but the world is not as good a place without Alan in it.My very best wishes to you.Lance Pearson"