Read Vawter
Longtime lakeside resident Read Vawter died June 10.
Read was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1928, and grew up in Memphis, Providence, Bethesda and Denver.
In 1945, he left high school to spend ten months on active duty with the U.S. Navy in the final months of World War II. After graduation from the University of Colorado in 1951, he rejoined the Navy and served on active duty as a Supply Corps officer. In 1956, he went to work for American Express as a foreign service trainee in its overseas banking subsidiary. While stationed in New York he obtained an MBA from Fordham University.
During a 31-year career with American Express, Read held various managerial positions, including military banking district manager in the Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan and Japan. He was in charge of establishing American Express military banking facilities in the Philippines and Vietnam from 1966 to 1970. Read was also active in the Naval Reserve for 37 years and commanded several reserve units. He retired with the rank of captain.
Read retired from American Express in 1987 and moved to Ajijic to live near his parents in their final years. In 1997, he married Charlotte Moore, which opened a new chapter in his life.
Read attended the Abundant Life Assembly of God church, and enjoyed playing golf and supporting local ministries and charities. He was an avid booster of the University of Colorado sports teams and set up scholarship funds at University of Colorado and Purdue University.
His survivors include his wife Charlotte and sister Jane Leahy of Eugene, Oregon.