Karl Wayne Reed, age 69, of Waldorf, Maryland, passed away at Southern Maryland Hospital in Clinton, Maryland, on July 31, 2011 of pancreatic cancer. He was born in Ohio on August 11, 1941, to the late Velma and Robert Reed.

Mr. Reed graduated in 1966 from Toledo State University with a degree in Engineering Physics. He went to work for the Naval Ordnance Laboratory in White Oak, Maryland the same year. He subsequently completed all course work for a Master's Degree in Physics at the University of Maryland, College Park. When the Navy Lab at White Oak closed in the late 1990's, he was reassigned to the Indian Head Division. As a physicist for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, he provided forty-four exemplary years of service before retiring last year as Senior Scientist. He will be remembered as a mentor, an innovator, and as someone who delighted in exploring endless possibilities.

A generous husband and loving father, he is survived by his wife Sue Reed, daughter Lora Palmer (Stephen), brother Robert Reed Jr. (Marjorie), sister Linda Evick, and nephew James Reed (Tammy).

Cremation arrangements were made through Huntt Funeral Home in Waldorf. A memorial service will be held on August 28, 2011 at Heritage Christian Church, 15250 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland at 12:15 pm.