Joyce R. Read
PHILADELPHIA — Joyce R. Read, 72, of 18 Main St., Philadelphia, NY, died March 6, 2010 at the Samaritan Medical Center.
Arrangements are with the Hart & Bruce Funeral Home. A celebration of life will take place Apr. 4th beginning at 4 p.m. at the home of Ms. Read at 18 Main St., Philadelphia.
Born April 4, 1937 in Wallingford, CT, daughter of Paul and Claire Atkinson Engelhardt, she graduated from Wallingford High School. She married Bill Lepack, the marriage ended in divorce.
Joyce moved to NYC and graduated from Barbizon Modeling School. She continued to model in NYC for several years. She appeared in Summer stock around the East Coast and had vocal engagements in several major cities. She was with the Guy Massella Orchestra as a feature female vocalist. She moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in modeling and singing. She launched her acting career at Oakdale Musical Theater where she appeared in "Destry Rides Again" with movie and TV star Hugh O'Brian in a singing and acting role. Joyce was named "Miss Bridgeport Flight Service" at the Municipal Airport in Stratford. She had a lot of ambition to become an airplane pilot. She had flown around the country and soloed several times. While in California she sold diamonds for a local store. She met George Read and the couple moved to Maine where they married. She owned and operated a house cleaning business for several years there. Her marriage ended in divorce. She moved to Antwerp, NY where she worked with her father, Paul Engelhardt, as a beekeeper. She moved to Philadelphia in 2001.
Among her survivors are a daughter and son in law, Tiffany Read Webb and Arthur Webb Jr.. Philadelphia, NY; a son and daughter in law, William E. and Carolyn Lepack, ME; four grandsons, Tyler and Trevor Lepack, ME; Dakota and Orion Cook, Philadelphia, NY; and a brother, William Engelhardt, Antwerp.
A brother, Alfred Engelhardt and a sister Gloria Engelhardt Gerald died before her.
Donations may be made to Save the Music 1515 Broadway, 20th Floor. New York, NY 10036.
