Cynthia K Reed

The strength and determination of Cynthia Kay Reed was evident during her whole life. As a 4th Grader at Bethel Local Schools, she set the school record of 614 sit-ups, and she tenaciously clung to life until the day of her homegoing to Heaven on May 11, 2026 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia.

Cindy was born September 21, 1960 in Dayton, Ohio to Clyde Palmer Reed and Bessie Kate Reed. In 1978, Cindy graduated with honors from Bethel Local Schools in Tipp City, Ohio where she cultivated her love of the arts and theatre through the Drama Club, the Fine Arts and Choir.

Cindy’s life was truly marked by serving God and others. As a teenager, Cindy gave her life to Jesus as her Lord and Savior and was very involved in the Youth Group, Choir, and Puppet Ministry at Crossroads Baptist Church in New Carlisle. Her spiritual formation was of central importance to her which is why she chose Liberty University. There she studied Radio and Television Broadcasting and worked at Liberty’s student radio station. She also participated stage productions, where she performed as an actress and built stage scenery. Additionally. she sang in the ‘Sounds of Liberty’ Choir. She graduated in 1982 Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Broadcasting and a minor in Business. It was at Liberty where Cindy met her true best friend, Susan Cox.

After graduation, Cindy relocated to Central Ohio and felt a strong pull away from the world of broadcasting to the business world, so she achieved a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources from The Ohio State University. In HR, Cindy was able to leverage her heart for helping others into a profession.  Cindy loved supporting people and seeing them thrive in their workplace. She was a member of the Society of Human Resources Management.

Cindy was a longtime member of New Life Church in Gahanna, Ohio, where she was involved from the earliest days of the church. At New Life, Cindy was involved in Small Groups, Singles Ministry, Youth Ministry, Worship Ministry, Choir, and Drama Ministry. She later was a member of Heritage Christian Church in Westerville, where she was involved in a Small Group.

It wasn’t only at church where Cindy exercised her creativity. She was in multiple productions of the Gahanna Community Theatre. Additionally, she was a great seamstress and whenever her nephews needed a Halloween costume, she was there. She loved interior design and always brought great creativity to her home, which was always open to family and friends.

Cindy loved being a ‘pet parent’ and got such joy out of spoiling her pups, Lucy and Ben. 

Cindy was preceded in death by her parents Clyde “Buck” Reed and Bessie Kate(Becknell )Reed at far too young an age, her grandparents, Ballard and Dova (Fox) Becknell and Robert and Minnie (Chaney) Reed Sharps hair, as well as numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Cindy is survived by her brother Mark (Mary Wentzel) Reed of Ormond Beach FL; Matthew (Jaime) Reed of Murfreesboro, TN; her nephew Daniel (Heather) Reed and his daughter, great niece Robin Reed of Atlanta, GA; nephews Jack Reed and William Reed of Xenia, OH; her honorary nieces(daughters of a dear family friend)Hannah Green Ivy and Molly Green Hersch of Columbus, OH. Cindy’s nephews and niece were the light of her life and she loved to spend time with them and have them at her home. Cindy is also survived by many maternal and paternal cousins and countless friends.

Of special note is Cindy’s best friend, Susan Cox, of Columbus whom Cindy considered a dear sister. Sue and Cindy met in college and Sue was a true and faithful friend all the way to the very end. As Cindy’s dementia took greater hold, Sue stood by her, navigating her transition to assisted living and was there for Cindy on a daily basis for many years.

Friends and family may call on Monday, May 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Egan-Ryan Funeral Home NW Chapel, 4661 Kenny Road, where a time of prayer at 7 p.m. will be observed. Funeral Services will be held on May 19 at 10 a.m. (also at Egan-Ryan Funeral home NW Chapel) following an hour of calling at 9 a.m. Burial and a simple graveside service will follow at Willow View Cemetery 2500 Neff Rd, Dayton, OH 45414

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Alzheimer's Association (alz.org) or to Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org).

To all of Cindy’s family and friends, she will be deeply missed. Cindy had a zest for life and we are all greatly relieved that she is no longer experiencing grief, memory loss, or physical pain but that she is in glory with Jesus and her parents and family. We are grateful for Cindy’s restoration in eternity.