Edwin Reed

North Hampton - Edwin Reed, North Hampton, NH passed away on Saturday June 27, 2026 at the age of 97 with family at his bedside. He would have been 98 on July 15th. Edwin Walter Reed was born in Unity, NH, on July 15, 1928. He was the second son of Albert and Abby (Mann) Reed, following his older brother, Charlie. Over the next few years, his younger brothers, Frank and Ralph (“Tiny”), joined the family. Together, they became known around town as the “Reed Boys of Unity.” Ed graduated from Stevens High School in Claremont in 1946. Like his brothers Charlie and Frank, he proudly served his country. Ed chose the U.S. Army and was stationed in occupied Germany. He served in the Quartermaster Corps, where he was qualified in the transportation of explosives. In 1959, Ed opened Ed’s Equipment Service in Claremont, NH, specializing in commercial truck sales and service. The dealership sold and serviced International Harvester trucks and became a well-known local business built on Ed’s strong work ethic and honesty. Ed met the love of his life, Barbara, while she was working at The Broad Street Inn in Claremont. They were married on August 23, 1962, and shared more than six decades together. They welcomed three children into their family: Lori in December 1963, James in July 1966, and Kathryn in September 1969. In 1971, the family experienced an unimaginable loss when their young son, Jimmy, lost his battle with cancer. Though time moved forward, his absence was always felt, and his memory remained forever in the hearts of those who loved him. Throughout their years together, Ed and Barbara also shared a love for animals. Although he may not have considered himself a pet person at first, he quickly became just as devoted as Barbara to the many dogs and cats that became part of their family over the years. Each pet found a place in his heart, and he enjoyed the companionship, laughter, and unconditional love they brought into their home. Their lives were made richer by the many four-legged family members they welcomed along the way. In 1966, Ed built a new facility at 287 Washington Street in Claremont, NH. His brother Frank joined him as service manager, and later Frank’s son, Scott, came to work at the dealership after high school. When Ed retired in 1993, Scott proudly continued the family business. For the younger generation of Reeds, working at the garage was a rite of passage. Ed’s daughters, Lori and Kathy, along with his nephews Scott and Jeff, all spent time working there during their high school years. They swept floors, washed trucks, stocked parts, and helped wherever they were needed. Lori and Kathy also spent many hours helping in the office. The garage was more than a business—it was the heart of the family’s daily life. Barbara spent countless hours there supporting Ed and sharing in the life they built together. For Lori and Kathy, the garage was as much a part of growing up as their own home, a place where family and work blended together and countless memories were made. Ed retired in 1993. He and Barbara enjoyed retirement in Florida before moving to South Carolina in 1997 to be closer to their daughter Kathy. In 2020, they returned to NH to live with their daughter Lori in North Hampton. Above all else, Ed was a devoted husband and loving father. Lori and Kathy remember greeting him with what became known as “squeakers”—an exaggerated puckered-up kissing sound into his ear that never failed to make him smile and became one of the many little traditions that defined their family. On school mornings, he was often the one who woke the girls, made breakfast, and, whenever he could, drove Kathy to school—saving her from riding the school bus, which, ironically, he may very well have sold to the school district, and joining in on field trips with Kathy. Ed was predeceased by his parents, Albert and Abby Reed; his brothers Charlie, Frank, and Ralph (“Tiny”); his cherished son, Jimmy; and his son-in-law, Robert Schrepfer. He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara, whose loving care and devotion sustained him throughout his later years; his daughters, Lori Schrepfer of North Hampton, NH, and Kathryn Kelly (husband Bradley) of South Carolina; his grandchildren, James Schrepfer (wife Rachel) of Virginia and Mark Schrepfer of Allenstown; his great-granddaughter, Sophia; his niece, Sue, and nephew, John, children of his brother Charlie and Margery; his nephews, Scott Reed (wife Katie) and Jeff Reed (wife Meagan), children of his brother Frank and Mary Ellen; his grandnieces, Molly and Emma; and his step-grandchildren, Camille and Liam of South Carolina. Ed will be remembered for his quiet strength, unwavering work ethic, deep love for his family, and the life he built through honesty, perseverance, and kindness. Whether at the garage, around the family table, or simply sharing a smile after a familiar “squeaker,” he made those around him feel loved. His legacy lives on in his family and those he touched. A graveside service is being planned.

Edwin Reed

July 15, 1928 - June 27, 2026