Billy Read August 24, 1939 - September 5, 2024

Billy Dale Read was born August 24, 1939 in Warren, Texas to Neal and Inez Read and was the youngest of their five children. He grew up on their family farm where he and his siblings learned the value of family and hard work.

Billy attended grade school in Warren then went on to earn his Bachelor of Science and Masters in Mathematics. While working on his Masters, he discovered a love of teaching and went on to teach Math at Lamar University for over 50 years.

Billy met the love of his life, OraLee, and they were married August 2, 1981. They resided for a short time in Beaumont then moved to Warren directly next to where he grew up. There he was able to enjoy his love of gardening, carpentry, and mowing grass. He was a member and deacon of Fellowship Primitive Baptist Church where he was very devoted to helping care for the buildings and grounds. Later in life after he and his neighboring brother Ivison got tractors with buckets on the front, they both found great joy in digging ponds and other large holes. Billy was a loving, caring, provider for his family. He had a mischievous sense of humor and never passed up an opportunity for a good practical joke.

After a battle with various health problems, Billy passed away September 5th, 2024.

A graveside service will be held Monday, September 9th, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Fellowship Cemetery in Warren. Officiating will be Elders Jimbo Swinney and Walter McAlpin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Fellowship Church in support of Melody Grove Singing School.

He was preceded in death by both parents and brother J.D. Read of Nederland.

He is survived by his wife OraLee of 43 years, son Zachariah Simmons and wife, Christa, of Houston, daughter Frances Iglesias and husband, Joseph, of Warren, brother Ivison Read and wife, Margaret, of Warren, sisters Faye McAlpin of Warren and Florine Wacasey of Houston, grandchildren Katelyn and Andrew Simmons, and Julia, Hannah, Benjamin, and Ava Iglesias, and a multitude of loving friends and extended family who carry with them an abundance of wonderful memories of Billy.

Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home in Woodville, Texas.