Obituary of Elwood J. Reber

Charlton, NY - Elwood J. Reber, long known to his family and friends as 'Bunny', peacefully passed away at the age of 90 on August 29, 2009. Born in Centerport, PA, he was the son of Jonathan and Lillian (Zimmerman) Reber. Bunny retired from General Electric in 1982 after 42 years of loyal service during which time he played a dynamic role in the growth and development of the nuclear industry. He started his career in 1940 after graduating from Ursinus College with a BS degree in Chemistry. He was soon recruited by E.I. DuPont deNemours to work on research into the science and application of nuclear energy. In 1943, after the United States entered World War II, he joined the Manhattan Project as an engineer and for the next five years held numerous assignments at the University of Chicago, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, and the Hanford Works in the State of Washington. Following the war, Bunny was transferred to General Electric's facility, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), in Schenectady, NY where he held a wide variety of engineering and managerial positions. He was a long-standing member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Chemical Society, the Northeastern Chemical Society, and the Northeastern Section of the American Nuclear Society. After retirement, Bunny opened a tax consulting business and for many years provided financial advice and assistance with filings to a dedicated clientele. Bunny was a devoted father and active community leader. He loved the outdoors and for many years maintained a tent platform camp on Lewey Lake in the Adirondacks where he spent summers with his family and hunted in the autumn with his friends. One of the things Bunny loved best was to play cards. He belonged to several bridge groups and also spent many evenings at Lewey Lake beating anyone who would dare to compete with him at bridge or a good honest game of hearts. Bunny and Mary, his wife of 68 years, also enjoyed square dancing. During the late 1950's and early 60's Bunny served on the Executive Board of the Schenectady Boy Scout Council and was Scout Master for Troup 11, mentoring many young men in outdoor and life skills. In fact, in the summer of 1956, Bunny took his family to the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico where he participated in a rigorous scout master training program. For more than 50 years, Bunny served as a faithful member of Trinity Methodist Church, now Faith Methodist, on Brandywine Avenue in Schenectady. He was a Master Gardener for the Cornell Cooperative Extension and a member of the Glenville Rotary, the Charlton Zoning Board, and the Elfun Society. Bunny was predeceased by his daughter, Gayle Nethaway. He is survived by his loving wife Mary Louise (nee Kemmerling); his four other children and their spouses: Joel and Sandy Reber of Ronks, PA; Katie and Cliff Brown of Center Barnstead, NH; Mary Ann and Ed Newell of Albany, NY; Karen and Doug Gniewek of Clifton Park, NY; his sister Edith and brother-in-law Merritt Balthauser, of Mohrsville, PA; and fourteen grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Bunny's life on Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 10 AM at Faith United Methodist Church . Calling hours will be Tuesday evening from 5 PM to 8 PM at the Jones Funeral Home, 1503 Union St., (at McClellan St.), Schenectady for those who wish to call. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made in Bunny's memory to Faith United Methodist church, 811 Brandywine Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308 or to Boy Scouts of America, 253 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12205.