Obituary of Allen Robert Reed

Allen “Al” Reed, 63, passed away at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC on Wednesday July 27th, 2022, following a brief illness. As he began his next journey, he was surrounded by his loving family. Allen had a passion for helping others and serving his community. He was dedicated to his careers serving the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office and the Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department, as well as his part-time work with Samaritan’s Purse. From a young age, Allen knew that his future would be in Law Enforcement, and like many kids of his generation he grew up watching Adam-12 on television, and wanting to be just like Officers Reed and Malloy. Getting an early start on his career, when he was only 9 years old he saved a woman from a domestic abuse situation using only a water hose and a trash can lid. Allen started his law enforcement career in 1980, at the Pinellas County (FL) Police Academy, and upon graduation working for the St. Petersburg (FL) Police Department for a short period of time. By the end of 1980 he moved on to the Gulfport (FL) Police Department, where during his 10 year career he worked as a patrol officer and later as a detective. Prior to leaving the Gulfport Police, Allen was instrumental in setting up the agencies first Narcotics Unit, and in 1985 he was named the Gulfport Police Officer of the Year. In 1990 he left the Gulfport Police, and with his wife and the first two of his four children, moved to Watauga County to start a new life in the High Country, and what would turn out to be a 27+ year career with the Watauga County Sheriff’s Office. Allen’s first assignment was working as an undercover Narcotics Deputy, not only in Watauga County, but also with a multi-county Drug Task Force. After 5 years of undercover work he moved to Patrol as a Deputy, where he continued to distinguish himself, subsequently earning promotions to both Sergeant and Lieutenant. In 2007 Allen was promoted to the rank of Captain, and he served in this capacity until his retirement from full-time service in January 2017. True to form, Allen continued to remain with the Sheriff’s Office as a reserve Deputy. Throughout the past 20 years Allen also worked off-duty security for Samaritan’s Purse, and once he retired from the Sheriff’s Office he continued this obligation as a part-time security officer for the widely-known humanitarian aid organization. In addition to his Law Enforcement careers, for over 20 years Allen readily volunteered with the Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department as a Firefighter, First Responder and most recently as a member of the Board of Directors. Earlier this year Allen was blessed to receive a kidney donation from a live donor. Although he suffered with kidney disease for many years prior to the transplant, Allen was fortunate to have avoided the need for dialysis. Allen has been referred to as a hero several times throughout his career, but he and his family know that his donor, Sundai Sloan, is the definition of a true hero. In the six months after his transplant he felt better than he had in years, and he owed it all to this amazing guardian angel. With Allen in mind, please consider organ donation! Allen was preceded in death by his mother and father, Bob and Janet Reed and his in-laws Jack and Shunie Felix, all of St. Petersburg, FL. He is survived by his loving wife, Kathy, his soulmate and best friend for more than 40 years. He is also survived by his four children, daughter Heather Reed of Charlotte, son A.J. Reed of the home, son Andrew Reed of Asheville and son Matthew Reed and his wife Alexis Minton Reed of Vilas, and his furry humans Murphy, Chloe, Theodore, Henry, and Riley. Also surviving are special “bonus” family members, who have adopted and blended them with their own families, since Allen and Kathy didn’t have blood relatives of their own, in Florida and NC: Pat and Jim Schroeder, Sue and Charley Street and children, Wendy and Tom Vernon and children, Deb and Chris Cucore, Mike Schroeder, Bev and Dan Obiso and family, Brenda and Len Farthing and family, Anita Presnell and family, Sundai Sloan and family, Linda Foster and Bill McGuire. Family will receive friends at the viewing on Sunday, July 31, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Alliance Bible Fellowship, 1035 Highway 105 Bypass in Boone. A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, August 1, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Alliance Bible Fellowship, graveside service will follow at the Reed Family Cemetery. The family will greet friends immediately following the graveside service at Beaver Dam Volunteer Fire Department, 1928 Bethel Road, Sugar Grove, NC. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Reed family