The local tennis community lost a long-time associate on Sunday, July 31, 2016. Paul B. Reynolds, 81, of Gloucester Point, died after a lengthy illness in Newport News, Va.
A Peninsula area resident for most of his life, he was born in Danville, Va., the beloved son of Sally Crider Ryan and Arthur Ryan.
An avid and skillful tennis player, Paul began playing at the age of 12. He was a 1953 graduate of Newport News High School and attended Randolph-Macon College where he continued his studies and tennis competitions. He was awarded a B.A. in Economics from the College of William and Mary in 1960 and enjoyed his professional career as an Industrial and Quality Engineer working primarily for the Newport News Shipyard and Liebherr.
After serving two years in the Army, he fell in love with and married Emilie “Marie” Rue from Raleigh, N.C. Together they raised their family in Newport News and Williamsburg. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1981. He later welcomed Therese (“Terry”) Nicholson into his life and they remained happily married until her death in August 2007. As fortune would have it, Paul and his first love, Marie, were reunited and married in 2009.
He was a member of the Hilton Tennis Club for many years beginning in the early 1950s and participated in local tennis tournaments throughout his life. Many friendships were forged on the courts. Indicative of his quirky sense of humor, he was known to occasionally wear old madras Bermuda shorts instead of the standard tennis whites for matches with unknown opponents. Naturally, the other player would presume he was dealing with a “novice” and would proceed with unwarranted confidence, to his ultimate detriment. In his later years he enjoyed golf and long daily walks.
Outside of tennis, Paul appreciated his favorite TV shows “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune,” family, good food and travel. He possessed a dry wit which was thankfully passed on to his children, Rebecca and Paul.
He is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Marie Reynolds of Gloucester Point; brother, Michael Ryan (Brenda) of Mascot, and sister, Ethel Spady (George) of Smithfield. His two children, Rebecca Kinkead (Tim) of Williamsburg, and Paul L. Reynolds (Janeane) of Hayes and stepchildren, Claude Nicholson (Nancy) of Hampton, and Cynthia Rice (Terry) of Buchanan, Tenn., mourn his loss. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, Emily Kinkead of Charlottesville, Va., and Heaven Lamb of Hayes, and many others in his extended family.
The match may be over, but LOVE remains.
A memorial service will be held at Bethany United Methodist Church at 1860 Hayes Road in Gloucester Point, on Thursday, August 4, 2016, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow.
Cremation Society of Virginia, Newport News, is assisting the family.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Hilton Tennis Club, c/o Dan Simms, 57 Sweetbriar Drive, Newport News, Va. 23606.