William Joseph Reed, 79, of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico, died Wednesday, July 30, 2008. He was born Feb. 4, 1929, at Konawa, Oklahoma, the son of Hoyle Bowles and Ethel Goad.

Reed’s father died while he was still an infant, and his mother married Lon Reed, who eventually adopted Bill, hence the change of last names. His parents moved to Phoenix, Ariz., in 1934, and Reed graduated from Phoenix High School in 1946. In 1947, he enlisted in the Navy, serving in the Mediterranean and Atlantic theatres. Working his way up through the ranks, Reed eventually served as a Naval Intelligence Officer. For eleven years during his career, he worked for the Naval Security Group and the National Security Agency, primarily as a cryptanalyst and Turkish linguist. From 1962 to 1965, he also worked internationally for the NSA as a troubleshooter, lecturer and briefer to Department of Defense and NATO intelligence agencies. At the onset of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Reed briefed President John F. Kennedy regarding the Soviet submarine threat and the NSA proposed solution thereof. He married Joyce Louise (Lusk) Reed on May 27, 1951. Divorcing in 1965, Bill remarried in 1966. That marriage also ended in divorce. In 1970, Reed moved to Mexico and wed Sylvia Rosa Garces Marroqui. Bill and Sylvia remained married until his death in 2008.

Following his retirement in 1967, Reed earned a master’s degree in history from the University of San Diego, and while working on his doctorate in Spanish Borderlands History, became co-founder and president of Frontier Heritage Press, Inc. of San Diego, Calif. He wrote biographies of two famous South Western artists: “Olaf Wieghorst,” (foreword by Senator Barry Goldwater), Northland Press, Flagstaff, Arizona, 1969 (Wrangler award winner, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City); and “DeGrazia: The Irreverent Angel,” Frontier Heritage Press, 1971. San Diego. After his permanent retirement in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in 1972, Reed wrote eight other books: “The Art of Living in Mexico,” Wilkie Publishing Co., 1974, Los Angeles; “An Open Book: John Huston” (ghost writer), Alfred A. Knopf, 1980, New York; “Crazy Ivan” with W. Craig Reed, Writers Club Press, Dec. 2000, Lincoln, Neb.; “Mike Oliver’s Acapulco” with Mike Oliver, Writers Club Press, Feb. 2001, Lincoln, Neb.; “Tarzan: My Father” (with Johnny Weissmuller, Jr. and W. Craig Reed) ECW Press, Toronto, Canada; “Rocks and Shoals ”(Volume One of his unpublished Military memoir); and “A Mexican Odyssey” (Volume Two of his unpublished Mexican memoir).

To the end, he lived outside the box, never conforming to expected “norms” or compromising himself or his beliefs to “fit in.” As with many “artists,” he was eccentric, and at times difficult to understand, but he did pass on his love of writing to his son and daughter, both of whom are now published writers in their own right.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia Rosa Garces Marroqui de Reed, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; daughter, Pamela Lynn Reed-Wallinger and husband Rick of Odell, Nebraska; son, William Craig Reed of San Jose, California; grandchildren, Brandon Reed, California; Dawn K. Wallinger, Nebraska; Dania L. Wallinger, Nebraska, and Cody J. Wallinger, Nebraska; stepsister, Peggy Reed; nieces and nephews, Debbie Rupp Gonzales, David Rupp, Douglas Rupp and Diana Rupp. Predeceased by sister, Bobby J. (Reed) (Rupp) Hansen; mother, Ethel Goad (Bowles) Reed; stepfather, Lon Reed; father, Hoyle Bowles; son, William Joseph Reed Jr.

Reed was cremated in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

(Paid)