Ltc Pat Reese

Lt. Col. Pat Layne Reese, 77, passed away peacefully with his family at Brooks Army Medical Center on December 17, 2020. Pat Reese was a decorated veteran who served in the Vietnam War and proudly flew during Operation Linebacker, and spent another 25 years in active duty with the US Air Force.

Pat Reese was born on May 28, 1943 in Beaumont, Texas to his parents Carl and Jessie Reese. Never a dedicated student, but gifted with the ability to memorize almost everything he heard, he received his undergraduate degree from Lamar State College in 1965.  Also in 1965, he married the love of his life, Sharon Reese; they would remain married for nearly fifty years, until her death in 2015.  In 1966, he joined the US Air Force.  Fully embracing the lifestyle of a pilot, Pat’s early life was spent collecting Corvettes and Harley Davidsons, and traveling the world.  He spent extensive time in Thailand and finished the last decade of his career in Hawaii, as a commander with Pacific Air Command.

After retiring from the military, Pat started an education company, Afterburners Papercraft.  Through his work with various Texas school systems, Pat taught thousands of children about the principles of flight and physics, utilizing the knowledge and skills he had learned in flight school.

When he wasn’t working, Pat was fascinated by computers and spent much of his time learning and mastering new technology.  He was a voracious reader, who eschewed television in favor of books, typically reading one to two each week.  He was a true animal lover, and kept several dogs and cats as pets until late in life.

Pat was predeceased by his father, Carl Reese; his mother, Jessie Reese; and his wife, Sharon Reese. He is survived by his son, Layne Reese; his daughter-in-law, Junella Reese; his brother, Michael Reese; and his sister, Carleen Reese.