Captain Ernest E. (Jack) Reynolds, USN (Ret.) went to be with the Lord on February 1, 2021 in San Diego. He was just two and a half months short of his 100th birthday.

Born in Blackfoot, Idaho, he spent most of his early life in the State of Washington. Jack was both a Sea Scout and a Boy Scout where he earned his Eagle Scout rank and was a troop leader. He graduated from Franklin High School in Seattle and spent his free time sailing and fishing on the Puget Sound and the Inland Passage.

After graduation, Jack attended the University of Washington for one year before receiving an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. He graduated in three years (1943) as part of the class of 1944.

His initial assignment as a new Ensign was to the destroyer USS Charrette. Two days after arriving on board the ship in Brooklyn, the Charrette sailed for combat duty in the Pacific. Jack participated in twenty-nine major engagements throughout the Central and South Pacific.

In November 1944, he received orders for primary fight training at the Naval Air Training Base at Ottumwa, Iowa. While learning to fly, he met and married DaLoris Ann Nihart. Jack received his wings in 1945 and went on to fly sea planes, electronic reconnaissance aircraft off the China coast, and as Commanding Officer of an antisubmarine squadron. His final shipboard tour was as Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Bennington when he was promoted to Captain.

His shore assignments were highly varied. They included the Naval Missile Test Center, the Army Guided Missile Post Graduate School, the Staff of Commander Naval Air Forces, Stanford University, the Director of the Sidewinder Guided Missile Program, and the Center for Naval Analyses in Washington D.C. He retired from the Navy in 1966.

As a civilian, Jack formed several companies working in advanced electronics technologies and construction. He retired in 1988 and settled in San Diego. In retirement, he was active in Rotary, the La Jolla Professional Men's Society, Habitat for Humanity, and was a long-time usher in the Presbyterian Church. Jack's hobbies included hunting, fishing, golf, travel, and reading.

He is survived by two sons, Jon and Robert and Jon's wife, Mary, of San Diego, CA, one grandson, Douglas of Las Cruces, NM, and his wife, Tracy, and three great grandchildren, Sadie, Owen and Brandtley. A full military honors service was held at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery. He is interred with his wife of 67 years, DaLoris, at the Cypress View Mausoleum in San Diego.

Jack requested that any donations be sent to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 Randolph St., Ste. 225, Arlington, VA 22203.