Walter Harris Reed was born 25 April 1895 at Superior, Nebraska, son of Seth ad Agnes (Shanck) Reed. He married Martha Eggert on 27 July 1938 in Norfolk, Nebraksa. He died 29 October 1975 in Monroe, Washington. Martha was born 11 May 1900 near Lyons, Nebraska and died 30 December 1988 in Snohomosh, Washington. They are both buried in Floral Hills Cenetery in Lynwood, Washington.

Walter became a musician, playing violin, saxophohne, and cornet, and eventually he led his own musical ensembles. Between 1913 and 1921 he toured with various shows and on the Chautauqua circuit including the Rice and Dore Show in 1913, the Sells-Floto Circus and Buffalo Bill Himself in 1914, the Elwin-Storng Company in 1914, the Standard Chautauqua System in 1919, and the Redpath-Horner Chautauqua in 1921.

In 1923 he commenced a career as a music teacher and leader of local bands. He taught at the Montezuma School in Los Gatos, California from 1923 to 1926. He moved back to Nebraska and taught music in Lyons and Norfolk Nebraska schools from 1927 to 1935, and also directed the Norfolk Municipal Band. In 1936 he moved to the state of Washington and taught music in the Fall City, Washingtn school from 1936 to 1937. Beginning in 1937 he taught music at the Washington State Reformatory.