Sonja Reed
- Published: September 16, 2010
Sonja Reed died Wednesday, Sept. 8, at her home in Yellow Springs. She was 83.
Born Sonja Köhler on June 19, 1927, in Thalheim, Germany, she spent her youth traveling around Europe as part of a family circus act. During this time, she also began performing with elephants, a fondness she would hold the rest of her life. Following World War II, Sonja met and married U.S. Army soldier Charles Reed. After coming to America, she and Charles settled in Yellow Springs in the home in which she remained her entire life. She later sponsored the citizenship of her mother, sister and brother.
Sonja was a longtime member of Bethel Lutheran Church, and she later joined St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Fairborn. She was a devoted grandmother who spent much of each summer at the village pool. She also enjoyed walking and riding her bicycle on the bike path and around town. She could often be found working around the yard and tending to her rose bushes.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles. She is survived by her sons, Paul (Pam) Reed, of Guantánamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, and Michael Reed, of Cedarville; three grandchildren, Tammy (Todd) Maguire, of Oregon, Travis Reed, of Cedarville, and Samantha (Justin) Stingley, of Waynesville; and two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and McCahan Maguire. She is also survived by her sister, Evelyn Pomeranz, of Yellow Springs; her brother, Eckhard (Brenda) Köhler, of Beavercreek; and several nieces, nephews great nieces, and great nephews.
A graveside service will be held at a later date at St. Paul Catholic Cemetery in Yellow Springs. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Dayton, 324 Wilmington Avenue, Dayton, Ohio 45420.
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