In Memory

Rebecca Reed (Harlan)

Rebecca Reed (Harlan)

Rebecca Reed Harlan was born October 5, 1944 in Honolulu Hawaii.  During World War II, her father was working as a civilian contractor in Hawaii and they lived there until they came to Southern California after the war ended.  Rebecca attended Tweedy Elementary School and then Maywood Christian School, South Gate Junior High, and graduated with us in 1962.  She was a Ramblerette and a Job’s Daughter.

After graduation, she attended UCLA to major in Microbiology, but had to drop the second semester due to financial reasons. She then went to work at North American Aviation. In 1966 she and Frank Harlan married and they made their home in Orange, California. In 1982 their son, Patrick, was born. She was a loving, caring, hardworking mom, who loved to learn and pass on the love for learning and knowledge to Patrick.

Rebecca continued to work at North American/Rockwell/Boeing and had a successful and fulfilling 38-year career in the Aerospace Industry that ranged from Executive Secretary, Contract Administrator and Contract Negotiator on the Space Shuttle Program, to setting up a Contract Compliance Department.  North American/Rockwell enabled her to finish her education at CSUF and Pepperdine and she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Management.  While working on the Space Shuttle Program, she was awarded several prestigious awards.  One award was for connecting engineering documents to contract documents, which was before computers, and this award resulted in her being able to attend the launch of Apollo 11  July 11, 1969.  Among her awards, she has a plaque with a flag representing one flown in space on the Endeavor Mission. 

After Rebecca retired, she didn't sit idle.  Her love for learning and helping others learn was put to good use as she taught evening classes of English as a Second Language at Rancho Santiago College to students who had to work during the day.  When she was diagnosed with lung cancer, she left that position.  However, when the cancer was in remission, she managed a historical building and was very involved with the Daughters of the American Revolution, where she was Regent of the Tustin DAR Chapter and curator of the DAR headquarters. In addition, for three years she was President of the Santa Ana Valley Ebell Society.

Rebecca and Frank were married for forty years before he passed away in 2006 after a long-term illness.  When her grandson, Logan, was born in 2016, she was delighted to be a grandmother and wanted very much to live to watch Logan grow up!  Rebecca attended our 55th Reunion with her dear friend and classmate Beverly Taylor Hopper and was happy to reconnect with classmates, as were we to reconnect with her!  Unfortunately, at the time, lung cancer had struck again.  Sadly, Rebecca passed away January 17, 2019. She is dearly missed by her son, Patrick, his wife, Sara, and her one and only grandchild, Logan, as well as friends and dear classmates.  Services for Rebecca will be: 10:00 AM, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 185 South Center Street, Orange, CA  92866  



 
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02/06/19 03:57 PM #1    

Judy Hanson (Dillard)

Becky was so strong through this. I  admired her fortitude. May she rest in peace. Heartfelt prayers for her son, daughter-in-law, and grandson. She will be missed  by many. I had not seen Becky for a long time and was at DAR State Conference and saw this lady that looked familiar and Lo & Behold it was Becky so I started my campaign to get her to attend our Reunion.


02/06/19 05:58 PM #2    

Bonnie Benson (Concialdi)

I remember Rebecca in high school as a very sweet and smart classmate and a Ramblerette!!  At our 20th Reunion, I was delighted to see Rebecca and we had several things in common...she was pregnant with her son, Patrick, and I had recently had my son, Matthew, and we were both excited that we each weren't the only one having children later in life!  She was working in the aerospace industry at North American/Rockwell and I had previously worked at Northrup Norair.  I also remember when she posted that she was a new grandma and she was so delighted and hopeful for the future!  It was so good to see her and reconnect at our 55th Reunion!  Rebecca was a classy lady and a wonderul, caring person!  Rest in peace, dear friend.


02/06/19 06:19 PM #3    

Sue King (Ross)

A very sweet girl I knew in high school. May God bless her family and give them peace knowing she is watching from above. Sue (King) Ross


02/07/19 12:32 PM #4    

Charles Klumpp

Bebecca was at our 55th class reunion and that was the first time I had met her.  She came with Beverly Hopper and near the end of the evening I walked them both out to there car. About 6 months passed and I invited Becky and Beverly to go out to dinner at the Baja California Gill in Norwalk, so we met there for dinner. The restaurant had Karaoke that night so I sang a couple request for Becky, the one she like most was Unforgetable by Nat King Cole that brought back memories and happy tears.

Unfortunately, I did not see Becky again to say goodby, so I kept her in my prayers knowing she had terminal cancer. Becky may you now be at peace and without pain and being comforted by our Lord.


 


02/08/19 08:11 AM #5    

Claudia McQueen (Avicola)

I was so sad to hear of Rebecca’s passing.  She was a dear friend from Maywood Christian School days ~ and the only person I knew when I had to enter the scary halls of South Gate Junior High!! She helped me through those first overwhelming days/weeks in a “big school”.  Today, my prayers are with her sweet family. 

 


02/08/19 08:23 AM #6    

Tom Carnesi

My sincerest simpathy goes out to the Rebecca Reed (Harlan) family! I do remember her.

Tom Carnesi


02/08/19 08:49 AM #7    

Tom Sims

Rebecca and I had a very special relationship at South Gate High and for a while thereafter. She was a very special person in every imaginable way. I am so sorry we have lost her, and I send my best wishes to her family.


02/08/19 12:17 PM #8    

Cecile Lucki (Lincoln)

A kind and genuine classmate. My heartfelt sympathy to Rebecca’s family. May she Rest In Peace.

Cecile (Lucki) Lincoln

 


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