The funeral service for Ray Read, 83, of Bainbridge, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Medley officiating.

Interment will be at Roselawn Memory Gardens.

Mr. Read was born Jan. 9, 1928, in Washington, D.C., the son of Raymond Edgar Read and Janet Gassman Read. He died Jan. 25, 2011, at his residence.

He was a graduate of the University of Texas and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. Mr. Read came to Bainbridge in 1952, and was a local radio broadcaster and salesman until his retirement in 2010. Mr. Read was an active member of the community as a member and former deacon of First Baptist Church and the Penney-Lambert Sunday School Class, a member of VFW Post 4904, past president of Bainbridge Kiwanis, former member of the Bainbridge Jaycees, and served as a bailiff for the Decatur County Courthouse.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Frances Brock Read of Bainbridge; his son, Don Read and his wife, Beverly, of Lexington Park, Md.; his daughter, Sharon Garringer and her husband, Les, of Tallahassee, Fla.; his sister, Suzanne Janes of Janesville, Wis.; his five grandchildren, Jenny, Justin, Les, Chris and his wife, Heather, and Jennifer; and his two great-grandchildren, Cadence and Spencer.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 155, Bainbridge, GA 39818 or to Hospice of Southwest Georgia, 1323 E. Shotwell Street, Bainbridge, GA 39819.

Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.