Margaret Ruth Read Wakefield

Margaret Ruth Read Wakefield, M.D., 88, died Friday, June 9, 2006 at her Vermilion, Ohio, home after a lengthy illness. She was born May 20, 1918 in Akron and lived in Vermilion from 1945 to 1985. She was a resident of Florida since 1985 but made her summer home in Vermilion, Ohio. Dr. Read's practice included two specialties, Internal Medicine and Psychiatry. She was a graduate of Kent State University and the Western Reserve University Medical School. She was a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American Psychiatric Association. She was named to the Sigma XI Honorary Research Fraternity and the Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Teacher's Fraternity. She was listed in "Who's Who's of American Women in 1972". Dr. Read was a Teaching Fellow in Internal Medicine and an instructor of Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. She was an instructor and lecturer at Lakewood Hospital and St. Johns Hospital, Cleveland. She was Chairman of the Mental Health Committee for the Lorain County Medical Society and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Center for Personal Development at Bowling Green State University. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Lorain County Mental Health and Retardation Board. She was medical consultant to the Lorain and Huron County Guidance Center. She was a member of the Advisory Committee of the College of Health and Community Services at Bowling Green State University and Vice President of the American Academy of Clinical Psychiatrists. She was an instructor at Lorain County Community College and founder of the Experimental School for Teenagers (First in Ohio) at St. Joseph Hospital, Lorain where she was also an instructor to nurses. She was in private practice in Lakewood and Vermilion, and finished her career as Head of the Department of Psychiatry at St. Joseph Hospital, Lorain from 1969-1985. She published research articles in the American Journal of Physiology, the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the American Journal of Public Health, the Journal of Hematology, and articles about Diseases of the Nervous System. In 1972 she was listed in the Who's Who of American Women. She had been a den mother, a Girl Scout troop leader, chairman of International Affairs of the Erie County Federation of Women's Club, a member of the Business and Professional Women's Club of Vermilion, a member of the executive Board of the Vermilion Junior Women's League and founder of the Teenage Recreational Center, Vermilion. She was a member of the Literacy Council of Stuart, FL, and a lecturer at PTA, YMCA, schools, Rotary Clubs, and radio programs. She was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, the Lorain County Medical Association, the Ohio State Medical Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, the American Psychiatric Association, the Society of Biological Psychiatry, the Ohio State Psychiatric Association, the American College of Physicians, the Vermilion Boat Club, a founding member of Vermilion College Club, a member of Historic Vermilion, Inc., Vermilion Area Archival Society, Great Lakes Cruising Club, Garden Club of Stuart, FL and International French Club of Stuart, FL. She was an avid reader, boater, traveler, birdwatcher and gardener. Survivors include her 2 sons, Read F. Wakefield of Vermilion, and Theodore D. Wakefield II of Vermilion; 2 daughters, Margaret Wakefield Worcester of Vermilion, and Deborah D. Wakefield of Vermilion; grandchildren, J.B.P. Wakefield, Katharine W. Pecorak, Sara C. Pecorak, Amy E. Wakefield, Alison L. Marconi and Sara E. Stepp; and sister, Phyllis M. Read of Vermilion. Preceding her in death were her husband, Theodore D. Wakefield in 1992; parents, Dr. Frederick Karl and Loretta Margaret (nee McDonough) Read, and sister, Patricia Moore. The family will receive friends Thursday, June15, 2006 at St. Mary Catholic Church, 731 Exchange Street, Vermilion at 10:00 a.m. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Father Jim Holmer, Pastor, will officiate. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Historic Vermilion Inc. Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 37, Vermilion, Ohio 44089. Online condolences may be made at www.riddlefuneralhome.com.