WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS, Jr.
On December 29, 2014, surrounded by his loving family, William Henry Reynolds, Jr., 89, of Silver Spring. Son of William H. Reynolds, Sr., a founder of the American Instrument Company, and Irene Cook Reynolds, a homemaker, he was born at the old Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC and raised on Columbia Blvd. in Silver Spring. He attended Gonzaga College High School, where he excelled in elocution and debate, and upon graduating in 1943, enlisted in the Armed Services. He was selected for the Army Specialized Training Program for intensive technical education, but as the need for additional troops grew, he was called into active combat duty. Mr. Reynolds served in the 26th Infantry Division, arriving in Normandy shortly after the initial invasion in 1944. He was seriously wounded in battle and was awarded the Purple Heart.
After the war he attended Catholic University, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1950. He spent his entire career in the business his father co-founded, the American Instrument Company (AMINCO) of Silver Spring, a nationally known manufacturer of scientific instruments. He held a variety of positions in engineering and sales in the company and also served as an owner and corporate officer. The company later merged with Baxter International, Inc., where Mr. Reynolds continued to work until his retirement.
In 1955, he married Patricia Anne O’Brien at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown. They raised their five children in Silver Spring, where they were active members of St. Bernadette Parish for nearly 60 years. In their later years, they enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends at their vacation home at Lake Meade, Pennsylvania. In 2011, they moved to Riderwood Village in Silver Spring.
In addition to his beloved wife of 59 years, he is survived by his children Michael of Silver Spring, John of Laurel, Sharon Stanton and her husband John of Baltimore, Timothy of Silver Spring, and Patrick and his wife Stasia of Baltimore. He was a special Grandad to Meghan, Sean and Colin Stanton, and Conor, Emmet and Owen Reynolds, all of Baltimore. His sister Mary Ann Kirkham and brother Joseph C. Reynolds also survive him; another sister, Elizabeth Hans0n, predeceased him. Visitation will be held at The Chapel at Riderwood Village, 3110 Gracefield Road, Silver Spring, MD 20904 on Friday, January 2nd from 12 to 1 p.m., where Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 1 p.m.
A private burial at the St. John’s the Evangelist Cemetery, Forest Glen, will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in his name to Gonzaga College High School, Development Office, 19 Eye Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, or a charity of your choice.
