Joseph Condron Reed

Joseph Condron Reed, age 84, of DeLand passed away peacefully on June 25, 2025. He was beloved by all of his family and his impact is felt by generations of DeLand students and families.

Joseph Condron Reed was born in Rockford, Illinois on March 2, 1941, to Rhoda & Joseph Reed, Sr. He grew up in Oregon, Illinois where he excelled in sports including football, basketball, track and golf, accumulating 11 varsity letters and being named Athlete of the Year his senior year in high school. Joe also met all the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, foretelling his lifelong commitment to leadership, community service, and citizenship.

Following high school, Joe attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado where he was an active member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was drafted into the Army in 1963, completed Officer Candidate School and became a Company Commander while stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia.

After his military service, Joe returned to college on a football scholarship at the University of South Dakota. Upon completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Education, he moved to Deland, Florida, where he began teaching at DeLand Junior High School. At the same time, Joe attended Stetson University where he earned his Masters’ Degree.

In 1968, on the first day of school, Joe met Kathleen Grandell, also a first- year teacher, in the parking lot at DeLand Junior High School. It was love at first sight and the young teachers were married February 8, 1969, in Wilmington, Delaware, a union that lasted 56 years.

Joe was a devoted Volusia County educator, teaching and coaching generations of students in his 30+ career before retiring as Principal. Mr. Reed served as a history teacher, guidance counselor, coached football, basketball and golf teams, was Assistant Principal and then Principal during his time at DJHS.

In 1975 Joe and Kathy welcomed their only child Kirsten into the world. A scratch golfer, he lost the final match of the DeLand Country Club Championship that same morning after his daughter was born, having been up for three days straight waiting for her birth. An incredible golfer, you could find Joe on a golf course every Saturday morning outplaying the younger guys on the course. He loved the Deland and DeBary Country Club courses and his golfing buddies. Joe taught Kirsten how to play golf at a young age, entering her into a PeeWee Championship at the age of 5, the same year he learned how to braid her hair in the mornings when Kathy went back to college to get her Masters’ Degree.

Joe Reed was a devoted family man with a wife, a daughter and son-in-law, granddaughter, grandson, and his two younger sisters, as well as an entire family on his wife’s side who adored him. He had a great laugh, a smile that would light up the room and was a friend to everyone. There’s no question that his proudest accomplishment was his daughter who shared his love of long walks, animals, sunsets, evenings sitting around the fire pit and the family she created. Joe loved his son-in-law Rhett as his own and was in constant awe of his grandson, Reed, and granddaughter, Elyse. He was the greatest grandfather who always supported them at every sporting event, school play, awards banquet, and birthday party. He was always there. He never missed a moment to tell his family how much he loved them and how proud he was of them.

Joe is survived by Kathleen, his wife of 56 years, his daughter Kirsten Reed Wilgers, his son Rhett Wilgers, grandson Reed Wilgers and granddaughter Elyse Wilgers. He is also survived by his two sisters, Robbin Reed (husband Patrick Kudlich) and Kathryn Tremble (husband Mark) and nieces Katie, Farrell and Becca and their children, and innumerable Grandell family members in Delaware.

Lankford Funeral is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support Sidelined, a philanthropy created by his granddaughter to support injured Volusia County high school athletes, or to the Alzheimer’s Association. A Celebration of Life will be held at Granville Farms on July 26th at 11 a.m.