Colonel Chaplin, the Reverend Donald Dale Reeves, U.S. Air Force (Retired), 83, known to most as Don, died January 5th, 2023, in Fort Payne, Alabama. Don was an honorably retired member of Robert Donnell Presbytery. He was born October 26, 1939, to David Dale Reeves and Margaret Cottrell Reeves in Union City, Tennessee. Don was proud to be descended from Davy Crockett. He graduated from high school in 1957.

Don became a Christian and joined New Ebenezer Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Troy, Tennessee, in 1949. He attended Bethel College (now University) and graduated in 1961. While at Bethel, he was a member of Alpha Psi Omega and Phi Delt Sigma Fraternity, Vice President of the Student Congress, voted “Most Popular,” and named Mr. Bethel. He came under the care of Obion Presbytery in 1958, was licensed in 1960, and was ordained in 1961. The Reverend W. Daniel Marlar preached his ordination sermon and the Reverend Bobby J. Scobey delivered the charge. Don went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Vanderbilt University in 1976.

Among the churches Don served are Troy Associate Reformed Church in Troy, Tennessee; New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Lebanon, Tennessee; Todd County Cooperative Parish around Elkton, Kentucky; Jerusalem Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Mount Tabor Cumberland Presbyterian Church near Murfreesboro, Tennessee; Rock Island Presbyterian Church in Rock Island, Tennessee; First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Tennessee; and Central Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He also served as Presbyterial Pastor for Murfreesboro Presbytery.

Don served more than 22 years as a chaplain in the United States Air Force including postings to Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, US Air Forces Alaska in Alaska, and Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

Don served as a board member for Memphis Theological Seminary for several years. He was a chaplain at Central State Psychiatric Hospital in Nashville. He was an instructor for Northeast Alabama Community College. He also taught high school English. In 1971, as pastor of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Tennessee, Don served as pastor host for the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly.