Shirley Moore Read

Shirley Moore Read, 92, of Gastonia, North Carolina, formerly of Mount Airy, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Carolina Caring-Robin Johnson House hospice in Dallas, North Carolina. Born on May 15, 1934, in Baltimore, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late William and Mildred (Hennemann) Moore. She is preceded in death by her husband, James Lamar Read.

Shirley earned multiple degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park: B.S. degrees in both Chemistry and Computer Science, and a Ph.D. in Pysical Chemistry. She had a love of space and worked the majority of her career supporting multiple satellite launches and data analysis at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

She will be remembered as an avid reader and nature lover. Her many interests included swimming, bible study, and theater and musical performances.

Surviving her are her children, Grace Dytrt and husband Michael, Rebecca Read, James Read and wife Noie, and Ruthanne Glover and husband Joel; grandchildren Laura Clark and husband Timothy, James Dytrt, Brian Glover, and Eric Glover.

A graveside funeral service at Frostburg Memorial Park will be held on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 11 A.M.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Shirley to Carolina Caring

Foundation, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658 (reference Robin Johnson House in the memo).