Louis Clyde Reynolds
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OBITUARY
Perch Base Life Member and Holland Club Member Lou Reynolds departed on Eternal Patrol on February 3, 2021. Lou was a dual member of both Perch Base and White Mountain Base. Our condolences to Beulah, and the rest of the family.
Lou joined the Navy in 1943. His first submarine assignment was as a Radioman (RMSN) on a Sub Relief Crew and assigned to the USS Hackleback (SS‑295) in 1944 which was also his qual boat.
Lou also served on the USS Sawfish (SS‑276) and the USS Apogon (SS‑308) in 1946, the USS Blenny (SS‑324) in 1947, and the USS Tilefish (SS‑307) from 1951 to 1952, prior to his discharge as a RMN2(SS) in 1952.
Lou Reynolds was highlighted in the December 2017, issue of World War II magazine about a kimono taken from Japanese submarine I-14 after I-14’s surrender in August 1945. Lou was a member of the prize crew, sailing the I-14 to various ports in Japan, always keeping the 3,700-ton Japanese submarine ready to sail back to the United States as a war trophy. Ultimately, the navy sent I-14 to Hawaii along with two other Japanese super submarines, I-400 and I-401, for further inspection. On May 28, 1946—to keep its technology a secret and test a new torpedo exploder—the USS Bugara sank I-14 off of Barber’s Point, Hawaii.
As a WWII veteran, Lou was selected to be on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC in October 2016, quite an honor for one of our members.
Lou was also interviewed in 2018 in the Veterans Heritage Project series "Since You Asked," Volume XIV, Edition 1.

Lou Reynolds' qual boat.
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Lou's other boats.
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The Celebration of Life service for Lou was held at Thompsons Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, February 23, followed by Interment at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona later that same day.

Subsequent obituary issued by Thompsons Funeral Chapel:
Louis "Lou" Clyde Reynolds, December 12, 1924-February 2, 2021 Born near Clear Creek, Tennessee, he was the son of Louis Alcain and Lelia Mae Jones Reynolds. Shortly after graduating Clinton High School, he enlisted, and as a Morse Code master, despite his height, over 6', he requested service in the US Navy, aboard a submarine "it had better food." As part of the Greatest Generation, he served in WWII and the Korean War and later in life he was a proud member of local Sub Vets Perch Base and White Mountain Base. In 2016 he was selected for one of the last Honor Flights for WWII vets to Washington, DC. He also helped raise funds for the recently completed submarine memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
Upon return from Korea he joined family in Phoenix where he met the love of his life, Bea, on a blind date. They were married a few months later.
He began his career at the Arizona Republic/Phoenix Gazette taking classified ads and rose to Director of Advertising. He was a respected and well-liked colleague as any who knew him could attest. He retired after 35 years and moved with Bea to the White Mountains of Arizona where they built and ran Deer Springs Inn for many years. They forged countless new friendships over these years, enjoying time with their guests around the campfire. At age 75, he earned an Associates Degree from the local college. Lou and Bea eventually moved to Avondale to be near family.
Lou was committed to civic and professional engagement throughout his life and served on the board or volunteered for: Toastmasters, Optimist Club, Junior Achievement, Little League, Phoenix Little Theater, Love Kitchen, White Mountain Symphony, and St. Mary's Food Bank.
He enjoyed golf, bowling, R&G baseball, hunting, fishing, horseshoes and cards. A lover of the mountains that reminded him of home, he and his brother Carl built a stone cabin from the hillside near Diamond Point, AZ, that their families shared for many years.
He has been involved with his church since boyhood most recently Christ Community UMC, Avondale, and in Show Low, White Mountain UMC, where he was asked to be a lay preacher.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 68 years, Beulah Bea VanHise Reynolds; children, Amy, Stephen, and Patricia Schuler (Roy); grandsons, Brandon and Ryan Schuler; little sister, Ruby Csuy (Paul); many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by brothers Carl and Conda, and sister Ruth Kinsky.
A Memorial service will take place February 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Thompson Funeral Chapel, Goodyear, AZ, and will also be live-streamed.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Food Bank or the Humane Society.
Condolences for the family can be left at http://www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com/obituary/louis-lou-clyde-reynolds/