Robert “Bob” Richards

Robert “Bob” Richards was born on November 18^th, 1931 to Thomas and Nancy Clark Richards in Lenoir, NC. He passed away on August 19^th, 2022 as a resident at the East Bay Skilled Nursing Facility in Clearwater, Florida at the of age 90.

Family

Robert was preceded in death by his brothers, Paul Richards, Ned Richards, Frank Richards and his sisters Coleen Pilkenton, Jewel Childers, and Mary Lee. He is survived by his brothers, Fred Richards, Dan Richards and Carl Richards, his daughter, Cyndi (Richards) Simmons (Ernest C. Simmons) and four sons, Michael Richards (Linda), Rick Richards (Patt), Tom Richards (Jeanne) and John Richards (Laura), and leaves a legacy of 16 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren (and one on the way).

Life

Robert was born and raised in Lenoir, NC. He joined the United States Army and became a Corporal, he served in the 82nd and 101st Airborne from 1950-1956 in Japan during the Korean War. On December 28^th, 1957, Robert married the love of his life, Margaret Ann Blubaugh in Washington, DC. They initially resided in Virginia, where four of their five children were born, child #5 was born in Florida. Robert and Margaret (Peggy) were married for nearly 63 years when she passed away in 2020. In 1967, Robert and the family moved to Largo, Florida and found the Grace Bethren Church in Pinellas Park. Throughout their time at the church, Robert was a Deacon, Treasurer, and Elder. In 1972, the family moved to Clearwater, FL where they lived for 50 years.

Throughout Robert’s career, he received extensive training in electronics at Melpar (Virginia) and went on to retire from Honeywell (Florida) in 1996. Robert loved telling stories of his days in the Army and was respected, loved, and admired by his co-workers at Honeywell.

He greatly enjoyed going bowling and playing golf. Robert’s proudest achievements are his faithfulness to his wife of nearly 63 years and his five children. He was very adventurous- he bungee jumped at 60 years old to relive his paratrooper days! Robert was also courageous, faithful, and loving. He loved God, his wife, and his family. Robert was exceptionally humble and lived his life with the highest integrity. He was a witty man with an excellent sense of humor that included jokes about his missing finger. He was also talented in the kitchen; he made delicious soups and oddly put oregano in the green beans.

Services

A memorial service, to celebrate the life of Robert R. Richards, is scheduled for Saturday, August 27^th, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Grace Brethren Church located at 6300 62nd Avenue N., Pinellas Park, Florida. Inurnment will be scheduled at a later date.

Special Poem

Little apple on the tree,

you look so very good to me.

If you should fall to the ground,

you wouldn’t very long be around.

– the 10-year-old Robert R. Richards