Obituaries
William L. Read (12-23-2009)
William L. Read, M.D. of Winter Haven, Fla. departed this life Nov. 24 to stand face to face with his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He died of respiratory failure. He was born July 31, 1922 in Marion to William Jesse and Ruby Gladys Futtrell Read.
Dr. Read was a sergeant in the US Army serving with the 87th Infantry under General Patton serving in both the U.S. and European Theatres during W.W. II. He graduated from Louisiana State University Medical School in 1952 and interned at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans where he met and married Libby Kuykendall, a graduate of Southern Baptist Mather School of Nursing.
Dr. Read served a four-year general surgery residency at Vicksburg Hospital and Clinic and University of Mississippi. Dr. Read holds a masters degree from the University of Mississippi where part of the credit for this degree was earned in advanced anatomy, gross and surgical, teaching freshman medical students.
Dr. Read and his family moved to Winter Haven in 1958 and entered into private practice and remained until 1984 when he moved back to Farmerville where he practiced until his retirement in 1989.
He became a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery, 1960, was a member of American College of Surgeons and Southeastern Surgical Congress and others.
Dr. and Mrs. Read moved back to Winter Haven to enjoy their retirement with their children and grandchildren. Dr. Read was a member of Berachah Church of Houston and was a diehard football fan and enjoyed yard work.
Dr. Read is loved and will be missed by his wife, of 57 years, Libby Read; children, Countess (Colonel Kim) Hooper of Fairfax, Va., Belinda Floyd of Winter Haven, William L. (Allison) Read II of Stuart, Fla., Barry K.(Amy J.) Read of Winter Haven; grandchildren, Borden and her husband Colin, Blaine, Austin, Brayden, Scott, Kendall, Colin, Aubrey, Sarah and Timothy, as well as his extended family, friends and patients.
A memorial service was held Nov. 28 at 3 p.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Winter Haven. Condolences may be sent via www.oakridgefuneralcare.com.
