Read Larson

Larson, Read Artist and businessman, of St. Louis and Eureka Springs, Ark., died Wednesday, Sept. 30 at Creve Coeur Manor, St. Louis, after a short battle with cancer. He was 90. Read was born June 10, 1925 to the late Clifford and Dorothy Larson in Chicago. They moved to New Rochelle NY, where Read graduated from Isaac Young High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1946. Read attended Yale University, graduating in 1950 with a degree in mechanical engineering. On June 19, 1954, Read married Ginger Watson in Hinsdale, Ill. She preceded him in death in 1981. They had three children and moved 13 times as Read worked in sales for Amoco Chemicals, traveling on business throughout the world. From 1970-1974 they in London, England. In 1983, Read was transferred from Chicago to St. Louis. A lifelong watercolorist, Read met Stella Poulos Middleton in art class and they married on Nov. 24, 1984 in St. Louis. He embraced her Greek heritage and her three children. Retiring in 1984 Read and Stella moved to Eureka Springs, AR where both pursued successful careers as painters. In 2002 they moved to St. Louis and lived downtown. For several years Read was a sketch artist at the City Museum where he drew hundreds of caricatures for museum visitors. Stella preceded Read in death on Feb. 2, 2015. Read was a well-read intellectual with passions for art, theology and literature. His wit and sarcasm were legend. He was a devout member of the Episcopal Church. Read loved his children and his grandchildren who knew him as Pappou. Surviving are his children, Heather (Roger) Poyner, Ian (Karen) Larson, Fraser Larson, Valerie (Walt) Kopecky, Pam Bohling (Huey Nicholson), Guy (Courtney) Middleton, and 11 grandchildren. He also leaves friends from Tower Grove Manor and Friendship Village/Fountain View Assisted Living. The family would like to thank staff at Fountain View and Seasons Hospice for their care. Services: Services will held at 10 a.m. Nov. 28 at St. John's Episcopal Church, St. Louis. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lighthouse of the Blind or the St. Louis Artists' Guild.