William Thomas Read

William Read, 80, passed away on 3/3/2019. Bill was born in Baltimore, MD but raised in Sunnybrook, MD, until he joined the United States Marine Corp in 1956. During this time, while home on leave he contacted his old girlfriend Linda, who soon became wife on Feb.8, 1958. He served his country till 1959.

Bill was working Coca-Cola full time as a bookkeeper while going to Benjamin Franklin University in Washington DC at night. He received his Master’s degree in accounting with honors, being first in his class. He continued his education at the Cades CPA School. Bill took the National CPA exam in Nov. 1964 in MD. In Feb., 1965 Bill was notified he had passed with honors of being first in the state of MD out of over 400 candidates who passed. The National CPA Association notified him that he was in the top 10 out of over 17,000 who passed. He worked for the Securities & Exchange Commission in Washington DC, after several years became the Assistant Chief Accountant for investigations. Later, he worked for a national public accounting firm, Alexander Grant & Co., working in Chicago and Boston. He became a partner in 1978. May 1987 he resigned his job so we could move to Calabash NC so he could pursue his passion for golf. After a year, we decided to move further south to Walden Lake in Plant City, FL in the fall of 1988. In 1990 Bill went to work at Florida Presbyterian Homes, a retirement community, as Director of Finance. He retired in Feb. 2008 and pursued his hobbies including, golf, gardening, genealogy & traveling the United States and abroad. His most important travels were visiting family who lived all over the United States. Many sweet memories and fun times. Bill loved all the wildlife on the golf course, the birds and butterflies in his beautiful garden. His gardens were on the Plant City Garden Club tour in Nov. 2002. Pugs have been a big part of our life, our grand dog, Otis was his service dog who lived with us as he battled cancer.

He was predeceased by his brother Robert in 2006 and his son, Billy in 2007. He is survived by his loving wife Linda, daughter, Wanda Read and her children, Vivian Fry (Brent), Rachel Titus (Alec), daughter-in-law Carol Read and her children Tyler Read, Max Read and Colleen Read. He also leaves his great granddaughters Charlotte Read (daughter of Max Read) and Cali Titus. In addition to his brother, Ronald Read (Lorraine), sister, Joyce O’Brien (Danny) as well as many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers send donations in remembrance in Bill’s name to the Veterans Service Dogs of Southeastern Guide Dogs, 4210 77th St. East, Palmetto, FL 34221