James Ronald Read

James Ronald Read, born in Mars, PA, 78 years ago on November 29th, as the son of Carl and Mabert Read, a military family, Ron grew up traveling the world along with his younger sister, Beth. He lived in Austria and Sweden and was fluent in both German and Swedish at an early age. He aspired to attend the Air Force Academy, but fortunately decided on the University of Maryland instead, where he met Lynne Frazier. Lynne and Ron were married in College Park, MD on April 23, 1965 and both were employed at NSA until moving to Florida in 1977 where they purchased a printing business.

Over the succeeding 55 years of marriage they created a beautiful family together which included three biological sons - Scott, Jeff and Ryan, who were later joined by Jerry, Debbie and Rick – siblings, who were adopted in 1985, and in 2007, Scott Michael Browning became part of the Read Bunch. Fifteen grandchildren called Ron Peepop – Chris, David, Travis, Abrial, Sophie, Amber, Sarah, Kaeley, Bryson, Haley, Brittani, Jacob, Jackson, Charlie and Isaac and two great grandchildren, Declan and Luna and Landon is on the way!

The Reads owned Stonehouse Press in Largo for 9 years until Ron returned to school to earn his Masters Degree in Family Counseling from Nova University. He was a member of the Christian Counselor’s Organization and had offices at Northwood Presbyterian and Skycrest Methodist Church for a number of years. Ron later returned to school to pursue a degree in Theology, but later chose to serve as an administrator at Skycrest and Friendship Methodist Churches, and until his passing worked as Financial Secretary at Skycrest where he also taught the Foundry Sunday School class.

Ron was a wonderful husband, father and friend who has left a legacy of love with all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to Skycrest United Methodist Church or Clothes to Kids, both in Clearwater, FL.