Donald Herbert Read

Donald Read was born November 11, 1929 in Lafayette, IN to Percy and Mary Read. He passed away on October 19, 2016 in Gilbert, AZ. In 1955 he married Loretta Cowen. They had two children, Phil and Donna. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1950 and retired after 20+ years. He served in various locations around the world including bases in the U.S., the Philippines, Germany, Libya and Thailand (during the Vietnam war). After serving in the Air Force, he was very involved in the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). He was the post commander of the Chandler William B. Pate VFW post for one year. He was active in the Military Order of the Cooties (M.O.C. – which is a service organization for the VFW serving the veterans at veteran homes around the US). He also served as the M.O.C. Supreme Commander for the state of Arizona for one year. He went to a one room school house for grades 1 to 7. Donald was very mechanically inclined. In the Air Force he was a crew chief on fighters and trainers. His dad once told him to take a model A car apart and put it back together. He also worked with his mom in her cooking business. He is survived by his daughter, Donna Diecker of Hastings, NE; son, Philip and his wife Cindy Read who live in China and his grandson Arron and his wife Lisa Diecker of Hastings, NE and granddaughters Megan and Sarah Read and great granddaughters, Julia and Jersie Diecker. He was proceeded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Loretta and grandson, Justin Diecker.