Kenneth Jay Rieder Sr.

Kenneth Jay Rieder, Sr., 85, of Houston, Texas, passed away on November 28, 2018.
Jay was born in Taylor, PA., and joined the United States Navy in 1952. He completed aviator training and received his commission and wings in 1954. He married Elizabeth “Betty” Louise Jones in 1955.
Jay served on two aircraft carriers, Lexington (1960) and Constellation (1968), as helicopter commander. He received an honorable discharge in 1973 and had a career with Shell Oil Company until 1991. The happiest and most satisfying times of his life were his marriage to Betty, the births of their children, and fulfilling his dream of flying planes in the service.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret “Peg” Johnson and Leonard Rieder.
SURVIVORS: Loving wife Betty; children Elizabeth Pratt, Kenneth Rieder, Jr., Kimberly (Ed) Crater, and Robert Rieder; grandchildren Kelly (Chris) Murphy, Kevin (Brittany) Pratt, Kathleen (Nick) Hebert, Alison (David) Bayard, Jennifer (Wes) Combs, Michele Crater, and Kaitlyn Rieder; great-grandchildren Archer, Max, and Oliver Pratt, David Bayard, and Levi Murphy; brother Doug (Jayne) Rieder; and many other loving family and friends.
MEMORIALS: First United Methodist Church of Grapevine Endowment Fund and the Alzheimer’s Association.
MEMORIAL SERVICE: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 9, at First United Methodist Church of Houston (1320 Main St, Houston, TX 77002)
INTERMENT: 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 11, at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Celebration of life and reception to follow at First United Methodist Church of Grapevine (422 Church St, Grapevine, TX 76051)at 1:00 pm.