W. A. Read

W. A. Read was a native of the Baytown area. He was born July 26, 1915, at Mont Belvieu, attended school at Lynchburg and Cedar Bayou, and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. He was one of the first students to enroll at Lee College when it started in 1934. He passed from this life on Tuesday, January 18, 2005.

After thirty five years, he retired from the public relations department of Humble Oil and Refining Company (later changed to Exxon) in 1970 to devote full time to his photography business. He began his side career in photography in 1949 when he won his first top award in an Eastman Kodak Co. national contest. He also won top prize the following two years. This led to him becoming a freelance photo journalist. He began selling his articles and photos to such national publications as “Life Magazine,” “Sports Afield,” “Field and Stream,” the “Toronto Star” of Canada, and world syndicate “Three Lions”. He also enjoyed poetry and was published in three of The National Library of Poetry books. In his younger years, he enjoyed building and racing boats and helped organize the Baytown Boat Club. He became a professional photographer and established Read Studio. He became known as one of Baytown’s foremost wedding photographers. Even while he was in skilled nursing several people commented that he and his wife Jerri had taken their wedding pictures.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Goose Creek Country Club and Cedar Bayou Masonic Lodge No. 321, AF&AM.

He was preceded in death by his parents Chester H. And Bytha Gardner Read and by two brothers Hershel and Marshall Read.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Jerri Read; son and daughter-in-law, Ronnie and Mary Read of Dallas; daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Joe Watkins of Baytown, Sandy and Robert Pennington of Anahuac, Becky and Wayne Williams of Mansfield, La,; a stepdaughter and son-in-law, Judy and Stephen Linscott of Baytown. Grandchildren are Kathy and Glenn Villemez of Highlands, Kay Mills and Chris O’Reilly of Rey, Randy Watkins of Baytown, Danny and Suzanne Pennington of Anahuac, Kevin and Alecia Pennington of Baytown, Don and Lisa Watkins of League City, Melinda Read of Scottsdale, Az., Sammy Williams and Sarah Williams both of Mansfield, La., step granddaughter is the Rev. Stephanie Linscott of Houston. He is also survived by eleven great grandchildren.

Special family members are Dr. Roy Hershberger, Lanny and Shirley Hershberger. We want to give special thanks to Marcus Garcia, Neno and Yolanda Juarez, Clara and Joe Saarvedra.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Thursday from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be on Friday at 2:00 pm at Navarre Funeral Home officiated by the Rev. Stephanie Linscott and the Rev. Joseph Spitler. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. A graveside service will be held at Cedar Bayou Masonic Cemetery.

To view the obituary or post a tribute to the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Navarre Funeral Home, 2444 Rollingbrook, Baytown, TX 281-422-8111.