Major Harold Dean Read ended his final tour of duty peacefully at home on July 14, 2014. A member of the United States Marine Corps, Dean served both his country and his family with distinction.

Born June 7, 1934 in Shadehill, S.D., to Gladys and John Read, Dean’s family soon moved to Oregon, where he and his younger siblings, Orville and Faye, would spend their formative years. In 1955 he transferred from Eastern Oregon College to Central Washington College in Ellensburg. It was here he met Dorothy Dunn; in 1957 they wed, thus beginning a 57-year marriage built on love and mutual respect.

He entered the Marine Corps after his graduation and served in communications and counterintelligence. During Dean’s military career, his family, which grew to include sons, Michael and Kelly, and daughter, Teresa, moved to multiple duty stations, including Camp Pendleton (California), Marine Forces Command (Norfolk, Va.), Camp Le Jeune (North Carolina), and Marine Corps Air Stations in Kaneohe (Hawaii) and Iwakuni (Japan). He served two tours in Vietnam. During this time, he earned a master’s degree in education from Pepperdine University.

In 1978 Dean and Dorothy retired to Whidbey Island. He built the family home in Greenbank, worked with all three school districts as a substitute teacher, sold real estate, became a faithful member of Trinity Lutheran Church, forged lasting friendships and fervently enjoyed living on Whidbey Island. His family and many friends remember him as a man with a wry sense of humor who always kept his word and valued honesty and loyalty foremost.

In addition to wife, Dorothy, and children, Kelly Read, Michael Read (and Laurie Rieger), and Teresa Hansen (and John Hansen), Dean is survived by his sister Faye Casebeer, sister-in-law Linda Ainsworth, grandchildren Tyler Read (and Jenny), Dane Read (and Stephanie), Kenny Hansen, Graci Hansen, and great-grandchildren Lola Read, Mia Read, and Logan Dean Read.

A service of remembrance will be held at 2 p.m. July 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.