Hershel Richard Read

Hershel Richard Read, 81, born May 31, 1941, in Wayne County, IL, passed from this life September 25, 2022, at Asbury Place, Maryville, TN. He was preceded in death by daughter, Jami Read of Athens, GA; parents Frank and Nellie Read; maternal grandparents Clyde and Marinda Young; and paternal grandparents Charles and Gaynell Read, all of Fairfield, IL. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara; his daughter, Alica Ketchem (Joe); his grandson Brian Ketchem (Shannon); his brother Howard Read (Kathy); sister Marjorie Savidge; and three nieces.

After Hershel graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BS in Agricultural Engineering in 1966, he began his career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) (formerly Soil Conservation Service) in Lexington, KY, before returning to University of Kentucky to earn a master’s degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1969. He continued his career with NRCS, serving in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Iowa, Georgia, and California. In 1976, he was awarded a scholarship to Colorado State University, where he completed the course work for a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. While working full-time for NRCS, he completed his dissertation and received his degree in 1987. Hershel concluded his 34-year career by serving in the USDA Chair at the Industrial College of the Armed Services at Ft. McNair for two years. Hershel retired to Kitty Hawk, NC, in 1999 where he taught boating safety classes for the Coast Guard Auxiliary for nearly 15 years and fished so frequently that the fish trembled when the boat engine started each day. Due to declining health, he moved to Asbury Place, Maryville, TN, in 2015.

The service will be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.