Vincent Reina, Sr.

Vincent Reina, Sr. passed away the morning of April 14^th, 2021 to join his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at the age of 88. He was born in 1932, during the Great Depression, to his parents Anthony Reina & Mary Ditta Reina. 

His parents were hard working Sicilian immigrants who instilled in Vincent an extremely strong drive for hard work and commitment.  The family-owned Safeguard Food Market where they and their children worked unrelentingly.  Vincent graduated from Houston’s Milby High School.  He would fall in love twice in his life, first in 1952 to his beautiful bride Jeannine Mount. They were married for 18 years and were blessed with 4 children; 2 boys and 2 girls. Vincent then became a delivery driver for Mrs. Baird’s Bread.  Later, they followed in his family’s footsteps and bought Sunshine Food Market where they would meet Mr. Maxim Marcuse, a Jewish Holocaust Survivor, and the man that would change the whole trajectory of Vincent’s life.  Mr. Marcuse delivered eggs to their store and became Vincent’s best mentor.  After years of friendship, Vincent would take over Mr. Marcuse’s egg delivery business and expanded his clientele by delivering eggs out of the back of his pick-up truck to hotels and restaurants around the Houston area.  After learning so much from Mr. Marcuse, Vincent was confident he could grow his business by being involved in both egg production and supply.  This endeavor would lead him to the small Texas town of Boling in the 1960’s where he would buy some farmland to begin his egg venture and rightfully name his egg empire Maxim Egg Farms after his dear mentor Mr. Maxim Marcuse.

Vincent was a man of strength and determination, but in 1968 that strength would be painfully tested as he and his wife Jeannie would fight to endure the tragic death of their eldest son Anthony at the young age of 15.  No parent should ever have to bury their child and Anthony’s death was devastating beyond belief.  Maxim started to grow and flourish in the 1970’s with the help of Vincent’s brother Frank.  As time passed and success began to bless him, he would meet the second love of his life Miss. Bonnie Myatt.  Bonnie and Vincent got married in the spring of 1975 and Bonnie gave Vincent another son in 1980.  They were happily married for 40 years and resided in Boiling, Texas amongst family and friends until their deaths. 

Vincent, his children, his siblings, numerous family members and dedicated employees helped expand Maxim into becoming the largest privately owned egg production and processing farm in the great state of Texas. Vincent loved to play tennis in their backyard in Pyssen Live Oak Estates and riding horses every chance he got. His wife Bonnie, whose faith was bigger than her personality, would keep Vincent in God’s good graces and make sure her house was right with Jesus at all times.  She impressed upon both Vincent and her son the importance of walking with the Lord Jesus Christ and even took Vincent on a life changing missionary trip to Nicaragua with the outreach group Living Waters.  Vincent always worked closely with his son, Vince, Jr and then towards the later years of his life Chris. Bonnie passed away too soon in 2015.

Vincent led a full, but at times extremely hard life.  He gave when he could, tried the best he knew how and called a spade a spade.  Vincent was preceded in death by his wife Bonnie, parents Anthony and Mary Reina, son Anthony Reina, son-in-law Doyle Lane, sister Josie Flanagan and brother-in-law Jack Flanagan, and first wife Jeannine Patterson. Vincent is survived by his children Denise Lane, Vince and wife Brenda Reina, Kim and husband Ed Abatie and Chris and wife Tiffanie Reina, along with ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. He is also survived by his two younger brothers, Frank and Ben Reina and the rest of his very close Italian family. Pallbearers will be Frank Reina, Jr, Tony Reina, Victor Reina, Anthony Lane, Bryce Abke, Tyler Kulak, Jimmy Roppolo and Seyed Emam. 

 A visitation will begin at four o’clock pm will be held Sunday, April 18^th, at First Baptist Church of Wharton, Texas on 507 N. Fulton St.  The funeral service will also be at the church on Monday, April 19th, at 2pm to be followed by a grave-side service at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wharton. 

In lieu of flowers please give to Samaritan’s Purse. Vincent loved to give to the Lord through this amazing charity.  

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/donate-online/

Funeral Services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.  Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com.