Anthony John Read, 49, passed away in Casper, Wyo., on Aug. 8, of a heart attack while sleeping.

He was born July 26, 1975 in Vancouver, Wash., and graduated from high school in Madras, in 1994. He attended Central Oregon Community College in Bend and in 1996 enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

His 26-year-long naval career included serving on the USS Key West, a fast attack submarine based out of Pearl Harbor. From 1997–2003 the Key West completed three Western Pacific Deployments, two of them under War Time conditions. His team responded to the 9/11 attacks on our country, launching 27 Tomahawk Cruise missiles into Iraq.

In 2003 he took his first shore duty assignment as a Damage Control and Fire Fighting Instructor in Pearl Harbor.  During this tour he met Molly Wynn and they were married in 2004. With Molly by his side, he was soon promoted to Chief Petty Officer in 2006.

In 2007 Anthony went back to sea on another Pearl Harbor submarine, the USS Bremerton, completing a Western Pacific Deployment and advancing to Senior Chief Petty Officer.

After 15 years away from home, Anthony and Molly returned to Washington in 2011 where he served as the Senior Enlisted Advisor at the Nuclear Weapons Detachment Bangor until he was selected in 2012 as a Submarine Ordinance Limited Duty Officer.

In 2013 Anthony became Ensign Read, starting his career as a Mustang, which in the Navy is an officer who has been promoted up from the ranks of Navy enlisted personnel with no interruption of active duty status.  

In 2016 Molly and Anthony completed their family with the adoption of their son, Eli.

Once commissioned, Ensign Read became the Assistant Weapons Officer on the USS Pennsylvania until 2017.

During his 2017-2020 shore duty, Ensign Read was promoted to Lieutenant and served as the Nuclear Safety Officer at the Strategic Weapons Facility Pacific in Bangor. In 2021 he was named the Tactic Dept. Assistant Director of the Trident Training Facility retiring from that position in July, 2023 after 26 years in the Navy.  

Anthony loved to “build Legos,” take his chubby Corgi to run at the dog park, and watch his son playing basketball.

Anthony is survived by his wife, Molly; son, Eli; mother, Linda Read; uncle, Jim Read; and many cousins, as well as his “family-in-law” George and Jolyn Wynn, Emily Wynn, Taidje Wynn and Orion Hampton, and animal family Tuffy the Corgi and Kermit the cat.

In Anthony’s memory, encourage open dialog about addiction and mental health within your family, friends and community, and normalize seeking help.  Also, when you see a veteran, say “thanks for your service.”