Carl “Bill” Read, 74, of Coupeville passed away on Christmas Day. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and “Santa” to many. He was born Oct. 25, 1944, in Bellingham to Milton and Ruby Read.

Bill grew up in Bellingham where he met his high school sweetheart Cheryl and soon married in August of 1965. Bill loved music, cooking, travel, and most of all, his family. For 33 years he was a machinist/millwright at Intalco in Ferndale, Wash. In his retirement years, he found great joy in cooking and entertaining family and friends at his beach home in Coupeville. Bill was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and enjoyed singing in the choir and cooking men’s breakfast.

Bill loved growing out his gray beard, dressing up as Santa and visiting nursing homes, preschools and the Safeway in Oak Harbor, bringing joy to children and encouraging food donations for the needy. It is only fitting that “Santa” passed away on Christmas Day.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and Cheryl, his wife of 46 years, in 2012. He is survived by his children Michael and Lynn Read of Seattle, Robert and Christina Read of Lynden, and Ryan and Christine Wasserman of Bellingham. He has five grandchildren, Nevan Read, Natalia and Johanna Read, and Benjamin and Zoe Wasserman. Bill is also survived by his sister Betty (Jack) VanderHoek of Bow, Wash.

A celebration of life will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, 18341 Washington 525, Freeland, WA, on Saturday, Jan. 12, at 1 p.m. Memorials may be made to honor Bill by supporting your local food bank or to the memorial fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 97, Freeland, WA 98249. Please share your thoughts and memories of Bill online, www.sigsfuner alservices.com.