Herbert Reeves

Herbert (Herb) St Clair Reeves, a man who brought joy and love into the lives of those who knew him, peacefully left us on June 15, 2023. Herb was born on December 29, 1928, in Bluefield, West Virginia to the late Thomas Zack Reeves and Sadie Lee Martin. He leaves behind many cherished memories that will forever remain in the hearts of his children, Paula Reeves Santos (Edwin); Herbert St Clair Reeves, Jr. (Rosa); Christopher David Carrington (Cheryl); grandchildren, Erica Santos Johnson (Nico), Steven Joseph Santos, Michael Jason Santos, Kevin St Clair Reeves (Samantha), Andre St Clair Reeves; sister Blanche Reeves Tucker (Linton) and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

After completing high school, Herb joined the Air Force, where he served his country for 12 years and learned a trade as a cable splicer. For most of his adult life, he worked as a communications technology specialist and a salesman of communications equipment. He valued hard-work and was a man of integrity and optimism. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed traveling (driving, not flying). He was proud of the fact that over his lifetime, he either visited, lived in, or had driven through 49 of the 50 states in the United States. Unfortunately, he never got to Hawaii. His kids have many memories of long road trips to visit family, visiting many different states and interesting landmarks. He enjoyed flying when he was the pilot at the helm: he earned a private flying license and spent many years indulging his love of flying. Fishing was another past time he enjoyed. His children have fond memories of rising before dawn to accompany Dad on fishing excursions, although, those memories don’t include actually catching any fish.

It was in the soil where Dad found his true calling. A devoted organic vegetable gardener, he enjoyed spending his days tending to his gardens and fending off pesky varmints. He enjoyed harvesting fresh produce and, before it was a well-known concept, he was already a practitioner of farm–to–table dining. Herb’s passion and dream was to own a farm where he could embrace his love for agriculture and provide opportunities for those in need. He often talked about wanting to create a large-scale farm where he could employ people and foster growth in both individuals and the community, all while sharing the abundance of nutritious vegetables with those who could benefit most.

A true intellect and seeker of knowledge, Herb immersed himself in the world of books, always expanding his horizons with each turn of the page. As kids, he would remind us that “anything you want to know is in a book”. He embraced a lifestyle dedicated to vitality, taking daily vitamins and was able to avoid taking prescription medications throughout his life, something he was quite proud of. His commitment to well-being shone through, as he appeared years younger than his actual age and was often mistaken for being at least two decades his junior. His legacy of vibrant living and dedication to health will forever inspire us.

Many will remember him as a positive, upbeat person, his laugh and booming voice could change the energy of an entire room. Through his example, he taught his family about honesty, integrity, hard-work (and many valuable handyman skills). As we bid farewell to Herbert St Clair Reeves, let us take solace in the knowledge that his love and impact will live on through the lives he touched and the values he instilled in us. A private memorial service will be held in his honor. May he rest in eternal peace.