James P. Reger

James (Jim) P. Reger, a resident of San Diego, CA, died Thursday, January 21, 2016. He was born on June 2, 1952, in Buckhannon, WV, the son of the late Robert H. Reger and Gwen Finlayson Reger. He graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in Buckhannon, West Virginia, in 1970. He was a three sport varsity player and was named to the All State football team his senior year. He graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University in 1974 with a major in US history with an emphasis in creative writing. He was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He had relocated to San Diego as a bass player/singer in The East West Band in the 1970’s. He was well versed in Civil War history and was a reinactor.

He was a retired teacher of history at the secondary level in San Diego County and a prize-winning author of books including Baptism at Bull Run, Great Battles in History: The Battle of Antietam, Generals of the Confederacy, Life in the South During the Civil War, The Way People Live-Life Among The Indian Fighters, and Rebuilding Bosnia. He was an accomplished musician, songwriter, poet, and historian and served as a docent at the Maritime Museum, which included lecturing on the Star of India.

On May 4, 2007, he married Bonnie ZoBell, who survives. He is also survived by one son, Grayson William Reger, brothers Robert H. Reger, Jr., and wife Betsy of Vienna, WV, and John E. “Jack” Reger of Chagrin Falls, OH, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, William L. Reger.

A memorial service will be held at the Skyline Wesleyan Church in San Diego on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at 11330 Campo Road, La Mesa, CA, 91941. There will be a greeting of family and friends from 12:00 – 1:00 and a memorial service lead by Pastor Paul Rischer of Skyline Wesleyan Church from 1:00-2:00. A reception will follow at 2:30 p.m. at a location to be announced. Please plan on leaving early as the church may be hard to find.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the International Bipolar Foundation in memory of James P. Reger, at www.ibpf.org, 858-764-2496.