Reba Lee Ohlendorf

REBA LEE RIEDEL OHLENDORF Reba Ohlendorf passed away peacefully on January 7, 2023, in the Grand Brook Memory Care facility in Grapevine, Tx. Reba was born on January 13, 1939 in a small house in Fittstown, Oklahoma to Vera Wood Riedel and Willie Nelson Riedel. She had 5 siblings – Oweda, Dee, Ronald, Peggy and Kaye. Reba spent her early life in Stratford, OK., and went to school there until High School. The family moved to Oklahoma City about the time Reba was a freshman at Central High School in Oklahoma City. It was here that Reba met and later married Bill Longfellow. Greg Longfellow was the first born, and Rich Longfellow came along next. The Longfellow family moved frequently looking for better jobs; they lived in Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Taft, and then back to Austin. Reba started working at the University of Texas. It was about this time that she and Bill Longfellow divorced. She was working for electrical engineering professors, on the 5th floor of the Engineering Science Building on the University of Texas campus. Bob was studying electrical engineering and had a cubicle on the 5th floor as well. Reba and Bob met here and enjoyed each other’s company playing cards and dancing. Reba and Bob married in Dallas on January 25, 1969. They stayed in Dallas until June of 1970, when Bob, who was working for Texas Instruments, was transferred to Austin. In Austin, after Jami was born, Reba initially stayed home to take care of Jami, but as Jami got older, she worked in several roles; she worked some for temporary agencies; she worked as a Realtor; she completed the Legal Assistant Certificate Program in 1990; she worked as a legal assistant with the Public Utility Commission for the State of Texas for a number of years until she retired. Reba and Bob had a long and happy marriage. The highlights include living in Amsterdam for 6 months while Bob was working with Texas Instruments. They loved listening and dancing to classic country music - truly perfect dance partners. Reba joined and at one time was president of the Gamma Phi Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi Social Sorority; they enjoyed a lot of social activities with this group. They were both active in the Austin Aqua Fest from 1978 until 1985; a very fun and pleasant experience. Reba learned many crafts; stained glass, ceramic stoneware, and making quilts for her children and grandchildren. There were also many fun times and memories made at our river house near San Marcos. Sitting on the porch drinking coffee and having happy hours were some of her favorite ways to spend time with friends and family. She was a great wife, an awesome mom and an amazing grandmother. She will be missed by so many. Reba is survived by her husband Bob, son Greg Longfellow in San Francisco; son Richard Longfellow in Austin; Rich’s spouse Beverly; their daughter Shalene in Dallas; Jami Fuchs and spouse Jay Fuchs and children Jenna and Jace living in Bedford. She is also survived by her sister, Peggy Sarrett of Stratford Oklahoma. A celebration of life will be planned sometime in the near future.

Reba Lee Ohlendorf

January 13, 1939 - January 7, 2023