Reva Louise Christian

Reva Louise Christian, age 92, of Bel Air, MD passed away on May 30, 2014 at Young at Heart Assisted Living in Joppa. Born in Sparta, NC, she is the daughter of the late Arlie and Attie Spicer and wife of the late William "Bill" Howell and Raymond "Tex" Christian. A graduate of Bel Air High School, she was one of the first 14 employees of Bata in 1939 and then went on to make gas masks for the war at Aberdeen Proving Ground Edgewood Arsenal. She then worked for Glenn L. Martin making airplane parts, was the owner and operator for years of a restaurant, motel and gas station, was a dietician for Orange Memorial Hospital in Orlando, FL and finally was a machine operator for Belk Corp. in Kingsville. A former member of Oak Grove Baptist Church, she was a current member of Stepney Faith Center, Bel Air Moose Lodge and the American Legion in Edgewood. She liked to go on trips, shopping, walking, loved soap operas and spending time at the ocean.

Mrs. Christian is survived by her daughter, Norma L. Vest and husband, Franklin "Gene" Vest Sr. of Covington, VA; sister, Janice R. "Jean" Dean; grandchildren, William "Preston" Grace, James D. Grace, Dale R. Grace, Harold D. Grace, Frank Vest Jr., Dave Vest and Dan Vest; 17 great grandchildren and 10 great great grandchildren. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was predeceased by her brothers, Joseph and Samuel "Buddy" Spicer, sister, Irene Choate and grandson, David Grace.

Pallbearers were Preston and James Grace, Frank, Dan and Dave Vest and Ken Dean. Honorary pallbearers were Franklin Vest Sr. and Willard "Mac" McCardell.

In lieu of flowers, a contribution can be made to the Parkinson's Disease Information Center, 600 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205.