William I Read April 13, 1924 - July 17, 2010 Brother William I Read fell asleep in death on Saturday morning July 17, 2010. He was 86 years of age. He is survived by his wife of 61 years Dorothy as well as his son James and daughter-in law Barbara. William (Bill) Read was born to William and Emma Read of Camden, NJ on April 13, 1924. Bill was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses on July 21, 1940. After World War II broke out, Bill was drafted for military service. Because of his bible-based stand he refused to enter the military and he was sent to Petersburg Federal Penitentiary with a five year sentence. In Petersburg Bill had many faith strengthening experiences. Also while there he met Carl Ridgeway; a meeting that would change his life. Bill was released from Petersburg in 1946, just in time to travel directly to the Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses in Cleveland, Ohio. This was a pattern for his life, in that he was always doing theocratic activities. Right after his release from prison, he began sharing the good news with people full time as a pioneer minister. The meeting of Carl Ridgeway in Petersburg, led to Bill meeting Dorothy Ridgeway. Bill and Dorothy were married on January 1, 1949. As a couple, Bill and Dorothy served as regular pioneers. To show the depth of their devotion to Jehovah and theocratic activities they attended two public meetings and a Watchtower study the day after their wedding. In January 1950 Bill and Dorothy were asked by the Circuit Overseer to move to Norristown, PA where Bill at the age of 26 was to serve as what was then called the Congregation Servant. The next year they were asked to move to Feasterville, PA to start a new congregation. In 1953 Bill and Dorothy were invited to attend the 21st class of Gilead School held in South Lansing, NY. They graduated from Gilead at the Convention in Yankee Stadium; here they learned their assignment would be Bolivia, South America. While arrangements were finalized for the trip to Bolivia they served in the Circuit work in the Springfield, Peoria and Lincoln areas of Illinois. In December 1953 arrangements had been finalized for them to move to their assignment in Oruro, Bolivia. While serving in Bolivia Bill and Dorothy had many fine experiences. In January 1957 they returned to New Jersey where there son James was born in June. This started a new set of assignments for them. In 1960 Bro Hinderer who was serving as the Circuit Overseer at that time asked Bill to move to the Woodbury, NJ Congregation to serve as the Congregation Servant. Here Bill and Dorothy served for close to 50 years. During this time they served for a short period of time in the Haddonfield Congregation. Bill had many privileges of service, these included Substitute Circuit Overseer, Circuit Assembly Overseer, various assignments at the District Convention and Pioneer School Instructor. He directed and performed in a number of Bible Dramas at District Conventions. He had the added privilege of serving on the Committee of the Turnersville Assembly Hall. His greatest joy was always the field service; he served for many years as a regular pioneer. He always wanted to share the hope that the bible holds for mankind and teach them about Jehovah God and his son Jesus Christ. Even while he was in the hospital Bill continued to tell others the good news. But in addition to that, his actions while in the hospital showed God's spirit at work in him. Bill will be remembered as a dedicated, zealous worshiper of Jehovah who loved theocratic activities and loved studying God's word the bible. He loved his wife Dorothy with whom he shared 61 years of marriage. Although we are saddened by the loss and will miss Bill we rejoice in his life of zeal and faith. We are confident that Bill was faithful to the end and is now in God's memory. We know, as Bill believed, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life nor angels nor governments nor things now here nor things to come nor powersnor height nor depth nor any other creation will be able to separate us from God's love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) He looked forward to seeing all of us in the "New System of things".