Rodney Earle Reich

Rodney Earle Reich, 91, passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2025. Rodney was born on April 1, 1934 - Easter Sunday – at City Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem to Robert E. Reich and Joy Irene Yokely Reich. Rodney grew up in the Washington Park neighborhood in Winston-Salem with his parents and sister Rita Rae Reich Carper. In his early teens, he was the bat boy for the Winston-Salem Cardinals when they played at Southside Ballpark. In 1952, he graduated from James A Gray High School and, in the same year, won the Cardinal Cup, chosen as the most valuable high school baseball player in Forsyth County. He attended the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship until injury forced him to drop out in 1953. Rodney then embarked on a career as a draftsman at Western Electric on Chatham Road in Winston-Salem. He later transferred to Western Electric in Greensboro, where he met his wife Jane, and they married in 1960. He ended his career in 1996 at AMP Incorporated, where he had spent 2 decades and made enduring friends.

Raised at Home Moravian Church, Rodney was a lifelong Moravian and attended Trinity Moravian Church for over 60 years. At Trinity, he served on many boards and committees, played on and managed the Trinity softball teams, served as Treasurer, Usher, and was a constant smiling presence at the back of the sanctuary. Rodney was a part of the Fellowship Class, which included a group of the most supportive, loving, and fun people. They frequently dined together with monthly “birthday dinners,” traveled together on bus trips, vacationed at the beach, and attended decades and scores of Wake Forest football, basketball, and baseball games. “Of all the things I did, I tried to serve all people the way I think the Lord wants us all to do.”

Rodney walked fast, talked loudly, laughed hard, and loved iced tea. He was surrounded and buoyed by dear friends his entire life. As a young man, he loved playing baseball, softball, and basketball. He later turned to managing the Trinity Moravian Church teams and was, for a time, the president of the softball church league. All along the way, he volunteered tirelessly at Trinity Moravian Church, always eager to help out in whatever way he was needed. In his 50’s he surprised many when he and Jane bought a trailer at Indian Beach. To his family, this was a sign of his devotion and love for his wife, Jane. Rodney and Jane enjoyed many years at Indian Beach with family members, and of course, they made many great friends there as well. In his later years, Rodney continued his service to Trinity Moravian, attended Wake Forest games, and met on Fridays with a group of AMP retirees at Prissy Polly’s in Kernersville. He hardly slowed down until the end.

Rodney is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Rita Rae Carper; and his son, Joseph (Joey) Rodney Reich. Rodney is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Jane Routh Reich, his daughter, Jill Reich, and her husband, Marc Schatell. Nephews Chris Carper (Jane) and Chad Carper (Jenny) and their sons Cameron, Josh, Noah, and Matthew. Rodney also leaves behind his Prissy Polly Friday lunch group, who have supported and laughed with him for over 3 decades.

A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Friday, January 2, 2025, at Trinity Moravian Church, 220 E. Sprague St, Winston-Salem, NC 27127. Burial at God’s Acre in Old Salem will be after the service, then a reception back at Trinity, where the family will receive friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Trinity Moravian Church.

Hayworth Miller Silas Creek Chapel is respectfully serving the family.