Mr. Wallace C. Read

October 29, 1923 - January 16, 2017

Former Band Director at Kilgore College and former Mayor of Henderson, the Honorable Wallace C. Read, 93, passed away peacefully Monday, January 16, 2017, at his home in Henderson. Mr. Read served as a three-term mayor for Henderson. Read earned his BA and MA in music at Stephen F. Austin College. He enjoyed a long career as an instructor and well loved musician in East Texas, serving as an award-winning band director at Beckville, Gaston, and White Oak, a Sweepstakes awards band. At Kilgore College, he directed the outstanding KC Ranger Band for many years. With the Band and Rangerettes, Read traveled the world, always a ready and enthusiastic ambassador for East Texas. He established the concert band and concert series, inviting professionals such as Doc Severinsen, to draw large crowds Read is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara Harris Read, of Henderson, daughter Cheri Long and her husband Michael of Pflugerville, Randy Read and wife Ashley, Dr. Jeffrey Jones and wife Beth, of Longview; Carol Woerndle and husband George, of Red River, NM; eight grandchildren; three brothers, one sister, and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Mr. Read will be held at 2 pm on Friday, January 20, 2017, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Raul Benitez officiating. Interment will follow at Craig Cemetery under the direction of Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm on Thursday, January 19, at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Mr. Read's nephews. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.