Obituary of Elizabeth Walsh Read

Elizabeth "Libby" Walsh Read lived her life serving those less fortunate. Even the most distant acquaintance would have an anecdote to share detailing her unfailing altruism and decency. Those who knew Libby best considered her an example to live by, a woman of strength and character who viewed all living beings equally. She exuded cordiality and understanding. Though her passing on September 19 has left a gap, her influence is deeply felt in the lives of hundreds of individuals. Libby was born May 18, 1925 in Norfolk, Virginia. The only child of Violet Daughtry and William "Bill" Wesley Welsh, she received from them an unshakable belief in the value of assisting the less fortunate. During the Great Depression, her mother and father, a teacher and, respectively, a station manager for Norfolk and Western Railway, provided food for communities and individuals in need. They were also known for providing support to fellow rail workers suffering economic hardship. Violet and Bill instilled in Libby a love of learning and a strong work ethic, and upon graduating from Maury High School in Norfolk, Libby attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia, and the College of William & Mary. She moved back to Norfolk where she met Lt. Jack Read, USN, whom she married in 1947. Their daughter Betsy was born in 1952 and John in1954. Jack's dedication to his country, first in the Navy and in 1950, the U.S. Army, took them to various locations in the United States and abroad. Following his retirement from Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 1972, the Reads moved to Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he took a teaching position with the University of North Carolina School of Public Health. Libby received a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work at Meredith College, allowing her to further pursue her passion for helping others. Libby's fulfilling career as a social worker and volunteer spans nearly 50 years. During the Vietnam War, she worked as an Army Community Services volunteer at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. She assisted badly wounded soldiers with tasks that were often overlooked, such as writing letters home and sending gifts for birthdays, holidays and anniversaries. She made active contributions to her faith community, dedicating herself to Northwood United Presbyterian Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, and First Presbyterian Church and Chapel in the Pines in North Carolina. A recurrent theme in her life was working in foster care and fighting for the rights of children in need. She was a guardian ad litem, a member of the Interfaith Council of North Carolina and co-founder of Volunteers for Youth. Working with homeless youth, she ensured that children received birthday and Christmas presents, helped enroll them in school, and making sure they got to medical appointments on time. Libby participated on the Governor's Committee for Seatbelts on School Buses, fighting tirelessly for the addition of seat belts on school buses. She found out recently that Durham County had finally added seat belts to several buses. In 2000, Libby received the Governor's Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service from Governor James B. Hunt. In 2012, she recieved an award for Outstanding Service to Community from Mary Baldwin University. She held myriad passions, and pursued them all with great enthusiasm. When the Reads lived in Chicago, her interest in archaeology led her to work in an Egyptologist's office at University of Chicago. Libby loved reading about topics that interested her, such as ballet, theatre and architecture. She was a frequent attendee of the Carolina Ballet. Libby loved literature of all kinds, citing Henry James as a favorite author, and she read the newspaper every day. She was fiercely loyal to Tar Heel basketball, and was staunchly vocal about her distaste for Pepsi, fiercely preferring Coke. One of her greatest joys in life was the company of dogs; she often said she preferred them to humans although her actions showed no distaste for either. Many dogs had the fortune of being cared for by Libby, and she by them. Her favorites were Springer Spaniels. Dr. Jack Read passed away in 1984, and Libby remained in the house they bought together in Chapel Hill. She became close friends with Dr. Hilton Goulson, a colleague of Jack's at UNC. They spent much of their time in one another's company over the years, attending birthday parties, soccer games, theater performances, UNC Basketball and functions of all sorts. They even particapated in an archaeological dig together at Hilton's grandmother's dugout in Minnesota. Libby's final four years were spent as an adored and occasionally, outspoken member of the community at Hillcrest Convalescent Center, where she was usually accompanied by her friend Charlene Fuller. Libby is survived by her children Dr. Betsy Read-Connole and John K. Read, Jr., and her grandchildren Wesley Connole, John Connole, Mary Beth Connole and Jack Read, all of whom recall, in addition to her unparalleled humanity, a sharp and truthful wit. One of her oft-utilized phrases succinctly illustrated her momentous life: "If you are bored, you must be boring." She never was Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to serve the Read family.