Reed Stockton

Reed Denver Stockton, 95, of Glasgow died Tuesday, February 3, 2015 at Highland Ridge Assisted Living Facility in Glasgow. He was born in Albany, KY, the son of the late Joe David Stockton & Margaret Leslie (Owens) Stockton. Mr. Stockton was a mason, member of the DAV Chapter 20 of Glasgow, member of Glasgow Baptist Church and the Go Get'em Sunday School Class. He was an avid fisherman (from Lake Cumberland to Lake Okeechobee) and horseman. He was a member of the Barren River Rod & Gun Club and the Cross Country Saddle Club. Reed Stockton's military career started in 1940 at the age of 22. He enlisted in Troop K, 123rd US Calvary, Battery D. On January 6, 1941, Stockton's unit was inducted into federal service; his unit was changed to Battery C, 106th Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) and was sent to Camp Hulen, TX. After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Stockton knew his chance of coming home was over for a while. His unit left the United States in April of 1942 on the RMS Aquitanic and arrived in Northern Ireland & stationed near Belfast. He and his unit left Ireland in1942 to England and from there to North Africa. In July of 1943 he left North Africa and landed in Sicily near Palermo, Italy. While there, he and his unit were entertained by the USO, featuring Bob Hope and Frances Langford. After Italy, Stockton and his unit landed in Southern France and started advancing across country about the same period as D-Day invasion of Normandy. After France, Stockton had a brief stop in Munich, Germany before returning to the United States in June of 1945. In all, Stockton was involved in 5 initial assaults in the African & European theaters & received 9 campaign ribbons. In 1952, Stockton returned to war in Korea. After Korea, Stockton moved to Glasgow in January 1953 and was assigned to Headquarters Battery of the 623rd Kentucky National Guard where he served until his retirement in 1976. Survivors include 4 children, Reeda Elmore Greer of Glasgow, Donna Stockton-Early of Frankfort, Susie Pursley (Benny) of Glasgow and Dennis R. Stockton (Jackye) of Lawrenceburg; 8 grandchildren, Rhonda Elmore Townsend (Charles) of Russellville, Michael Ray Elmore (Lisa) of Glasgow, Mark Elmore (Jean) of Bowling Green, Sara William Early of Frankfort, Kim Pursley Sanders (Shawn) of Smiths Grove, Kory Pursley (Brandi) of Glasgow, Aaron Stockton (Rachael) of Frankfort and Amber Stockton Collins (Kenny) of Frankfort; a sister-in-law Bessie Stockton Decker; 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces & nephews also survive. Mr. Stockton was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Billie Perdue Stockton, a brother Russell Stockton and two sisters Dorothy Stockton Eller and Montie Stockton. Funeral services will be 11:00am Friday, February 6, 2015 at the A.F. Crow & Son Funeral Home with burial in the Elk Springs Cemetery in Monticello, Ky. Military honors provided by the 623rd Kentucky National Guard. Visitation will be after 12:00pm noon Thursday at the funeral home.