Harold King Reaves

Harold King Reaves was born July 24, 1920 in Hannibal, Mo.  And except for a few months during his early life, was a native Atlantan.  He died April 30, 2008 at age 87.    His Mother died when he was three years old and he was reared by his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Richard Johnson in East Atlanta. He is survived by his wife, Florence Hackney Reaves, daughter and son-in-law, Cathy and David Quarterman of Athens, Ga., son and daughter-in-law, Don and Diane Reaves of St. Augustine, and three grandchildren, Keith Reaves of Orange Park, FL; Kevin Reaves of Los Angeles, Ca, and Kristal Reaves of Chicago, Il; step-granddaughter Peggy Quarterman of Richmond, Va. During his life Harold was a person of many interests-photography, flying, water sports, hunting, woodworking and travel.  Harold and his lovely wife, Florence, enjoyed the beauty of the U.S. During many great trips.  They also enjoyed touring many  countries in Europe and Scandinavia-usually driving themselves but also by train. Early in his working life he developed a strong interest in manufacturing processes. Over a lifetime of employment in the metal working manufacturing industry he specialized in making manufacturing more efficient.  In his early career he was a Time and Motion Engineer making detailed studies of manufacturing operations.  Later in his career he was Supervisor of Planning and Manufacturing Engineering for the Le Tourneau  Company in Texas.  After returning to Atlanta, he was Vice President of an engineering and manufacturing company that designed and built complex machinery for many companies.  He enjoyed thirty years with the Lockheed Aerospace Company in Marietta, Georgia.  During this time he served in a number of manufacturing engineering and management assignments.  He was active in the development of new management technology and was awarded recognition by Lockheed for the receipt of manufacturing technology patents. The common threads thru his Lockheed career was managing planning and manufacturing engineering functions. In order to stay abreast of fast-moving developments in technology, it was necessary that he belong to a number of technical societies. It was also necessary that he visit the leading producers and users of advanced manufacturing technology in the United States, Europe and Japan. Harold was a certified Numerical Control Manager, a registered professional engineer-Industrial Engineering---in the state of Georgia.  He served on the board of directors of CAM-I-Computer Aided Manufacturing International. He was a senior member of the Computer and Automated Systems Assoc., a certified Manufacturing Engineer in Manufacturing Management-SME. He completed the Lockheed, Emory University School of Business Management Institute and held a Department of Defense secret security clearance. Harold enjoyed flying, he was a fighter pilot with instrument rating during WWII.  He had a commercial pilots license with an instrument rating after the war.  He belonged to a flying club and enjoyed taking the neighborhood kids flying. He took his last flight with an instructor at the age of 85. He was an excellent woodworker and built numerous pieces of fine furniture for his home and his children. He normally worked with walnut, oak and mahogany woods. Harold was active in his church, Briarcliff Baptist, where he was a Deacon and served as chair of the board of deacons as well as on other committees. He was a member of the Corbett Haden Bible class for thirty-five plus years. He was an active member of the Nothlake Golden K Kiwanis Club and in earlier years was an active member of the Toastmasters Club. Harold and his beloved wife, Florence, were married 66 years. Their bronze grave marker is inscribed-1941-A MARRIAGE MADE IN HEAVEN. This was truly the case. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: Briarcliff Baptist Church or Hospice Atlanta.