Bill D. Read, 81, son of Jess G. and Dell D. Read, was born Feb. 13, 1926, at Hobart, Okla. He died Dec. 25, 2007, at Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston.
Mr. Read grew up in Oklahoma City, Okla., where his father was the state insurance commissioner of Oklahoma for 22 years.
He graduated from Oklahoma Military Academy High School and attended Oklahoma University and Oklahoma State University. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Oklahoma City University. He was a member of Beta Theta Pi Society Fraternity.
He was in the U.S. Army during World War II, serving 10 months in New Guinea and the Philippines at Letto and Luzon. He received a Purple Heart for an injury.
Mr. Read went to work for Farmers Insurance Group claims in 1958 and to Cocoa, Fla., in 1961 as manager of the claims office for 10 years. He returned to the Farmers Springfield branch in 1971 and transferred to Yukon in 1987 as resident adjuster.
He was an avid sports fan and member of the Big Creek Baptist Church, serving as clerk and superintendent.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his wife, Sharlene, of the home at Yukon; four sons, Randy William Read of Knoxville, Tenn., Rodney Dunlap Read of Georgia, Kevin Medlock of LaGrange, Texas, and Tommy Medlock of Licking; one daughter, Connie Paillou of Mississippi; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services were Dec. 28 at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. David Jett officiating. Burial was in the Big Creek Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Gideons International or Hospice of Care.
