Carleton Whittier Read, known by many as “Readie”, passed away in Keene, NH on November 26, 2018. Loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he spent most of his life in Keene, NH and Leominster, MA.
He was born in Concord, NH on April 3, 1928; son of Arthur and Glaydis Read. He enjoyed sharing his birthday with his granddaughter Valerie. He grew up in Keene graduating from Keene High School in 1946.
Carleton was an Army veteran serving in Japan shortly after WWII and later during the Korean War.
Carleton married Joan Kalb in 1950. They had two daughters, Diane and Gail, who they raised in Keene.
He spent most of his career selling furniture at Plotkins Furniture in Keene. In 1978, he and his wife, Joan, move to Leominster, MA, where he managed the Plotkins Ethan Allen store. Sadly, Joan passed away in 1989. Carleton was fortunate enough to meet Arlene Vickman who he married in November, 1990. He enjoyed skiing with his daughters and granddaughters and skied till he was 70 years old. Carleton and Arlene returned to the Keene area when he retired. He was quick with a story or a joke, and was truly a people person.
Carleton is survived by his wife Arlene Read; daughters Diane Ross and her husband, Brian, and Gail Morin and her husband, Mike; “his girls basketball team plus one” granddaughters Melissa Prass and her husband, Markus, Deanna Clark and her husband, Samuel, Katie Ross, Valerie Stevenson and her husband, Dan, Becky Ross, and Marielle Morin; great-granddaughters Luise and Emilia Prass and Aurora and Anya Clark; sister-in-law, Jean Kalb; nephews and nieces Robert Trudelle, Susan Simonds, Andrew Read, Mary Payne, and several more; Arlene’s family: daughter Mona Vickman-King and grandson, Brian King; and several extended family members and friends. Carleton is predeceased by his wife Joan; his brothers Edgar and Earle; his sister Ruth Meader; sister-in-law Janet (Trudelle) Simmons; and his nieces Kay Read and Carol Trudelle.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 7, 2018 at 11:00AM in St. Margaret Mary Church, 33 Arch Street, Keene. Burial with military honors will follow in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Main Street, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Thursday evening from 6:00PM to 8:00PM at the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of HCS, 312 Marlboro Street, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431-0564.
