Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989

Charles Lee Reese II, 1903–1989 (aged 86 years)

Name

Charles Lee Reese II

Name: Charles Lee /Reese/ II
Given names: Charles Lee
Surname: Reese
Name suffix: II

Note: Dan Pryor referred to Charles Lee as "Granddaddy" in a 2012 email, writing: "attached is a five page letter by Granddaddy about Nana..."

Gender Male

Events of close relatives
Birth	April 7, 1903 40 31 Wilmington, DE
Death of a paternal grandmother	Arnoldinia Olivia Focke February 26, 1904
Birth of a brother	John Smith Reese IV September 15, 1904
Birth of a brother	Eben Bent Reese November 10, 1911
Birth of a brother	Wiiliam Fessenden Reese May 26, 1914 Wilmington, DE
Death of a brother	Wiiliam Fessenden Reese March 1916 Cause: Measles
Education	Highschool 1920 Wilmington, DE School or college: Wilmington Friends School Note: Based on Alumni Award (1978) from Wilmington Friends School -- Based on Alumni Award (1978) from Wilmington Friends School -- http://www.wilmingtonfriends.org/page.aspx?pid=543
Education	B.S. June 1924 School or college: University of Virginia
Marriage	Harriet Corbit Curtis — View this family October 2, 1926 (aged 23 years) Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware
Occupation	Journalist between 1927 and 1978 Wilmington, DE Employer: Wilmington Evening Journal
Residence	July 1927 Wilmington, DE Address: Folly Farm
Birth of a son	Charles Lee Reese III August 21, 1928 Address: Wilmington, DE
Residence	January 1930 Karthaus Address: Cloud-Reese House 2202 Old Kennett Road Wilmington, DE Note: Where Sally and Peter grew up. Built circa 1770 (1768?) on part of Cloud Farm. 1820 addition, sold in 1922, renovated, sold again in 1930 to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Reese I for their son. Discussed further in Sally's 2003 Thanksgiving in Delaware guide when it was owned by Pat and John Brewer (phone 302-654-2931). Pat (and Sally) have history of house as written by C. L. Reese II and Sally requested info from Registry on Historic Houses in fall 2003. Karthaus (Cloud-Reese House)
Birth of a son	Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese June 15, 1932 Wilmington, DE
Birth of a daughter	Sarah Corbit Reese June 15, 1932 Wilmington, DE
Residence	1940 Greenville, DE
Death of a father	Charles Lee Reese I April 12, 1940 Age: 77 Jacksonville, FL Cause: Heart attack
Death of a mother	Harriet Stedman Bent December 10, 1959 Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware
Death of a wife	Harriet Corbit Curtis 1971
Death of a son	Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese July 25, 1978 Chicago, IL
Death of a son	Charles Lee Reese III January 6, 1985 Age: 56 Home Cause: Cancer Address: Mendenhall, PA Note: Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer - June 2, 1985 Obituary from the Philadelphia Inquirer - June 2, 1985 Deceased Name: CHARLES L. REESE 3D, PHYSICIAN Dr. Charles Lee Reese 3d, 56, a prominent physician in Pennsylvania and Delaware, died yesterday of cancer at his home in Mendenhall, Pa. Dr. Reese was a native of Wilmington and a 1950 graduate of Princeton University. He began practicing medicine in Wilmington in 1963 and was head of the neurology sections for both the Medical Center of Delaware and St. Francis Hospital, both in Wilmington, at the time of his death. A fellow of the American Academy of Neurology and of the American College of Physicians, Dr. Reese was a clinical professor of neurology at Thomas Jefferson University and was a member of several medical societies. After serving in the Korean War, he earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, in Philadelphia, in 1958 and pursued graduate training in neurology at Jefferson and Pennsylvania Hospital. Dr. Reese was from a prominent Delaware family. His father, Charles Lee Reese Jr., is former editor-in-chief and publisher of the Wilmington Morning News and News Journal newspapers. His late grandfather, Charles Lee Reese, was the first chemical director of the DuPont Co. Dr. Reese belonged to numerous social organizations, including the Wilmington Club, the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin and the Society of Colonial Wars. He is survived by his wife, Katherine; sons, Dr. Charles Lee Reese 4th, and Douglas Boyd Reese; his father; a sister, and a grandchild. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow at Christ Church Christiana Hundred in Greenville, Del. Burial in Odessa, Del., will be private.
Death of a brother	Eben Bent Reese December 1986
Death	August 19, 1989 (aged 86 years) Age: 86 Hockessin, DE Address: Retirement home Cause of death: Heart failure

Date differences

Family with parents
father	Links Birth: November 4, 1862 35 33 — Baltimore, MD Education: B.S. in Chemistry? Phi Beta Kappa — 1884 Education: PhD in Chemistry — 1886 Occupation: Chief Chemist — between 1902 and 1911 Occupation: Chemical Director — between 1911 and 1924 — Wilmington, DE Death: April 12, 1940 — Jacksonville, FL Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Harriet Stedman Bent Charles Lee Reese II John Smith Reese IV Eben Bent Reese Wiiliam Fessenden Reese Charles Lee Reese I 1862–1940 Birth: November 4, 1862 35 33 — Baltimore, MD Death: April 12, 1940 — Jacksonville, FL
mother	Links Birth: November 13, 1871 50 32 Death: December 10, 1959 — Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Charles Lee Reese I Charles Lee Reese II John Smith Reese IV Eben Bent Reese Wiiliam Fessenden Reese Harriet Stedman Bent 1871–1959 Birth: November 13, 1871 50 32 Death: December 10, 1959 — Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware
himself	Links Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Education: Highschool — 1920 — Wilmington, DE Education: B.S. — June 1924 Marriage: October 2, 1926 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware Occupation: Journalist — between 1927 and 1978 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Harriet Corbit Curtis Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese Charles Lee Reese III Sarah Corbit Reese Family with spouse Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989 Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE
18 months younger brother	Links Birth: September 15, 1904 41 32 Death: June 26, 2002 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse John Smith Reese IV 1904–2002 Birth: September 15, 1904 41 32 Death: June 26, 2002 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware
younger brother	Private …–
younger brother	Links Birth: November 10, 1911 49 39 Death: December 1986 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Eben Bent Reese 1911–1986 Birth: November 10, 1911 49 39 Death: December 1986
3 years younger brother	Links Birth: May 26, 1914 51 42 — Wilmington, DE Death: March 1916 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Wiiliam Fessenden Reese 1914–1916 Birth: May 26, 1914 51 42 — Wilmington, DE Death: March 1916

Family with Harriet Corbit Curtis
himself	Links Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Education: Highschool — 1920 — Wilmington, DE Education: B.S. — June 1924 Marriage: October 2, 1926 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware Occupation: Journalist — between 1927 and 1978 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Harriet Corbit Curtis Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese Charles Lee Reese III Sarah Corbit Reese Family with spouse Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989 Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE
wife	Links Birth: June 27, 1903 45 31 — Newark, New Castle Co., Delaware Education: Art — between 1921 and 1922 — Paris, France Marriage: October 2, 1926 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware Death: 1971 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Charles Lee Reese II Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese Charles Lee Reese III Sarah Corbit Reese Harriet Corbit Curtis 1903–1971 Birth: June 27, 1903 45 31 — Newark, New Castle Co., Delaware Death: 1971
Marriage	Marriage — October 2, 1926 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware
6 years son	Links Birth: June 15, 1932 29 28 — Wilmington, DE Event: Joined Princeton Glee Club — November 1950 — Princeton University Event: Lost bike — November 1951 — Princeton University Event: Joined Princeton Nassoons as sophomore — March 1952 — Princeton University Event: Elected Treasurer of Princeton Nassoons — February 1953 — Princeton University Event: Nassoons trip to Bermuda — February 1954 — Princeton University Education: Fulbright scholarship to study French Literature — between October 1954 and 1955 — Paris, France Death: July 25, 1978 — Chicago, IL Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese 1932–1978 Birth: June 15, 1932 29 28 — Wilmington, DE Death: July 25, 1978 — Chicago, IL
-4 years son	Links Birth: August 21, 1928 25 25 Education: 1950 — Princeton University Death: January 6, 1985 — Home Burial: Odessa, DE Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Katherine Lloyd Evans Douglas Boyd Reese Charles Lee Reese III 1928–1985 Birth: August 21, 1928 25 25 Death: January 6, 1985 — Home
4 years daughter	Links Birth: June 15, 1932 29 28 — Wilmington, DE Death: June 6, 2019 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Sam Pryor Sarah Corbit Reese 1932–2019 Birth: June 15, 1932 29 28 — Wilmington, DE Death: June 6, 2019

Family with Private
himself	Links Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Education: Highschool — 1920 — Wilmington, DE Education: B.S. — June 1924 Marriage: October 2, 1926 — Wilmington, New Castle Co., Delaware Occupation: Journalist — between 1927 and 1978 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Harriet Corbit Curtis Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese Charles Lee Reese III Sarah Corbit Reese Family with spouse Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989 Birth: April 7, 1903 40 31 — Wilmington, DE Death: August 19, 1989 — Hockessin, DE
wife	Private …–

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Residence
Death

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Education	Based on Alumni Award (1978) from Wilmington Friends School -- http://www.wilmingtonfriends.org/page.aspx?pid=543
Residence	Where Sally and Peter grew up. Built circa 1770 (1768?) on part of Cloud Farm. 1820 addition, sold in 1922, renovated, sold again in 1930 to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Reese I for their son. Discussed further in Sally's 2003 Thanksgiving in Delaware guide when it was owned by Pat and John Brewer (phone 302-654-2931). Pat (and Sally) have history of house as written by C. L. Reese II and Sally requested info from Registry on Historic Houses in fall 2003.
Name	Dan Pryor referred to Charles Lee as "Granddaddy" in a 2012 email, writing: "attached is a five page letter by Granddaddy about Nana..."
Note	From Collecting Delaware Books -- http://jnjreid.com/cdb/horse.html The Horse on Rodney Square A good source of early twentieth century Wilmington social history is The Horse on Rodney Square by Lee Reese, published by the News Journal Company in 1977. And emphasis is on the word "social." Charles Lee Reese, Jr., was born in 1903 and grew up among the upper middle class of Wilmington in the vicinity of Delaware Avenue. He has stories of John Biggs, Jr. and his wife Anna, the Wyeths, Christopher Ward, F. Scott Fitzgerald at Ellerslie, and Gertrude Brinkle. Reese tells about fox hunts and which of the du Pont ladies drank a bit too much. Even the foibles of the local clergy are exposed. The book is full of fun, scandal, and human interest, all described by a professional writer. Newspaperman Reese Reese was hired as a reporter on Wilmington's Evening Journal in 1927. The late Bill Frank, a street-wise orphan and journalist of the old school, said that Reese got $25 a week, while he and the other reporters were paid $18.25. The explanation was that "these college kids always get more" and "well maybe he does know somebody in the front office." Reese had actually worked on a national news magazine and one of the earliest radio news programs before returning to Wilmington. No one thought he would last long, but he remained with the paper until 1978 rising from reporter to editorial writer, chief of the editorial page, executive editor, president and publisher, and finally chairman of the board. Frank is quick to say Reese did it with concern, interest, energy, and leadership, not his connections in high places. He certainly was a crusader. As executive editor, Reese led the fight against Bryant Bowles who in 1954 organized resistance in southern Delaware to the United States Supreme Court decision striking down school segregation. The paper lost a lot of circulation below the Mispillion. Reese was with the newspaper for 41 years. He died August 19, 1989 in a retirement home in Hockessin. Delaware History One of his finest contributions to our state was Delaware History magazine, the publication of the Historical Society of Delaware. In 1946, Judge Richard S. Rodney, president of the society, asked Reese to undertake publication of the semi-annual magazine. In the half-century since then, Delaware History, has become one of the finest publications of its type. Reese continued as editor of Delaware History until 1967, and was president of the society from 1968 to 1971. He was active in many other civic endeavors, including the hospital merger committee, the Wilmington Institute Free Library, and the Wilmington Music School. Other Books Reese has two other books two his credit besides The Horse on Rodney Square. In 1938, he co-authored Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, Delaware, 1698-1938 with Charles Minot Curtis for the Delaware Tercentenary Commission. This 52-page book is a popular history of Holy Trinity Church. It is fairly common and does not sell at a high price. In 1962, he edited the correspondence of Dr. David Meredith Reese, 1865-1892, and published it as the 30-page Letters of a Young Physician, 1889-1892. This is the only one of his books that is comparatively rare. The Horse on Rodney Square is quite common, but because of the demand it sells for $40 to $60 depending on condition and authors signature. In examining a copy, check the binding: it is prone to become permanently skewed if other books are piled on it.
Note	Namesake of Liam K. V. Reese

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Residence	Karthaus (Cloud-Reese House)
Media object	Lee at dinner table

Extra information

Last change

February 14, 2025 – 05:01:54

Author of last change: sveirs

Family navigator

Family with parents
father Parents John Smith Reese Jr Arnoldinia Olivia Focke	Charles Lee Reese I 1862–1940
mother Parents Ebenezer Bent Elvira Crane	Harriet Stedman Bent 1871–1959
himself	Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989
younger brother Family Private Private	John Smith Reese IV 1904–2002
younger brother Family Private Private Private Private	Private
younger brother	Eben Bent Reese 1911–1986
younger brother	Wiiliam Fessenden Reese 1914–1916

Family with Harriet Corbit Curtis
himself	Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989
wife Parents Frederick William Curtis Sarah Clark Corbit	Harriet Corbit Curtis 1903–1971
son Family Private Private Private	Peter Arnold Karthaus Reese 1932–1978
son Family Katherine Lloyd Evans Private Douglas Boyd Reese	Charles Lee Reese III 1928–1985
daughter Family Sam Pryor Private Private Private Private Private	Sarah Corbit Reese 1932–2019

Family with Private
himself	Charles Lee Reese II 1903–1989
wife	Private

Descendants

Charles Lee Reese II(1903–1989)
- Harriet Corbit Curtis1926
- Private