Harry J. Reese

Harry J. Reese - in his 98th year, a resident of West Falls for 65 years, passed Friday, June 12, 2026, at CMC Scranton from complications of pneumonia.  He was a Lab Technician for Woodlawn Dairy, Scranton, from 1948 – 1983, and served with the 82^nd Airborne in Fairbanks, AK, after graduating from Avoca High School.  He also worked at P&G Mehoopany for a short time.

Born on September 10, 1928, in Avoca, to Albert and Edith Arline Turner Reese, he was named after his grandpa Turner.  Harry spent his youth in Avoca and Moosic, and was a Boy Scout in Troop 2, Moosic.  One of his first jobs was as a pinsetter at O'Brian's Recreation in Avoca.  He married Thelma Lidy on May 20, 1949, in Wanamie, PA, with the ceremony performed by her first cousin, Rev. William Davies.  They bought their first house on McAlpine St. in Avoca with a big front yard soon filled by three sons and a niece, and shared with his brother Cal and sister-in-law Ruth, downstairs.  With the advent of the Northeast School District in 1961, they moved to the Falls area where they resided for the remainder of their lives. 

When he purchased his first Automobile, a 1950 Plymouth, he often would take weekend jaunts.  One of the more memorable ones was a trip down towards Glen Summit and Mountain Top, where the brakes on the car failed as they started down towards Wilkes-Barre.   A quick turnoff onto a level road towards Laurel Run handled the situation but there was nowhere they could go without finding an even steeper hill! [Giant's Despair]

Harry was a skilled carpenter and ventured into furniture making for friends and family. His favorites were a secretary cabinet and ice chests.  He also made cupolas, bench rockers, and wishing wells.  The carpentry skills were likely inherited from his Shales family ancestry as his great-grandfather Henry P. Shales and business partners built many homes in the once Pleasant Valley.

Community and Christian service were trademarks of his life and he passed these values onto his family.  His grandfather Albert Reese was a deacon in the Bethania Welsh Presbyterian Church, his great grandmother (Esther Evans Reese) had four brothers who were ministers in the Welsh Congregational Church.  Harry and his brother as well as their father served in positions at Bethel Methodist in Avoca which was built by the aforementioned Henry Shales in 1891.  They also were active in the Avoca Volunteer Fire Department.  A late 1950's project to map and identify the size and capacity of fire hydrants introduced his twin sons to community service.  As free range children, they did walk every street in the borough to identify these locations so dad could visit and obtain the other information.  Dale's community service was through Bethel church, Richard's through emergency communications, and Mark's through the Falls and Lake Winola Fire Company.

Harry was predeceased by his wife, Thelma in June 2015; sons: Dale J. (Dec. 2021), Mark D. (Nov. 2021); and two brothers: Albert (April 1931) and Thomas Carlyle (Oct. 1973). and an adopted sister, Glenys (Kenneth) Paterson; and daughter-in-law, Francine Lazorick (Richard) Reese (Oct. 2022). Surviving is one son, Richard M. of Etters (York), PA, and Mark's adopted daughter Hillarie of Montoursville.

Graveside services only at Mountain View Burial Park, PA 92, Harding., PA, on Thursday, June 18 at 3 PM.  Rev. Raymond Boinske of the West Falls Baptist Church will perform the service.  Arrangements by Kiesinger Funeral Services, 255 McAlpine St., Duryea.

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