1926
Vernon
2012
Vernon Edward Richards
September 7, 1926 — June 1, 2012
Ed was born to VE and Florence Roberts Richards September 7, 1926, the eldest of four children in Hatfield, Arkansas. Growing up on the family farm during the depression instilled in him a very strong work ethic. His summer "vacations" during High School consisted of trips with cousins and friends to Kansas to work harvesting wheat. Hunting and trapping were favorite activities during winter months on the farm.
He graduated from High School in 1944 and began an almost 50-year career as a heavy equipment truck mechanic. Prior to and during the Korean War, he was a defense worker building airplanes and working at the Red River Arsenal in Texas. A government construction job brought him to Oregon, where he worked in the building of The Dalles Dam in the mid-1950s. Upon completion of that project, he moved to Portland and resumed his mechanic career, spending several years repairing and maintaining trucks for the Frank Chevrolet Dealership, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and Miller Beer.
In 1963, he married Virginia Jones. They raised four children in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood of NE Portland. Being involved in his children's activities "made" his life. He especially enjoyed his years coaching and umpiring Little League baseball games. He was also a Cub Scout Leader and would always volunteer wherever needed.
He was most happy when helping others and enjoyed doing maintenance and repair work. He had such a gift for using tools, and it was always said there was nothing he could not "fix".
He retired from Gil's Truck Repair Company twenty yeas ago, but would go in and "help out" until 1994 when he required hip surgery.
After retiring, he enjoyed making several trips across the US, visiting several different areas of the country. He loved all types of music, attending the Opera and symphony concerts, but his favorites were Blue Grass and Country & Western. He loved to read and watch TV. War Stories and Westerns brought him much enjoyment, as did Major League Baseball.
He was baptized in 1989 and found peace, joy, and happiness in becoming part of the Eastside Family.
He was a very humorous person, and was bringing many laughs to his friends and caretakers right up to the very end of his life.
He is pre-deceased by his parents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends, and co-workers; two brothers, Calvin and David Richards; brothers-in-law, Willard Lance and Larry Jones; and sisters-in-law, Orestine Richards and Sylvia Hulit.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; son Douglas and his wife Linda, and their daughters Julia and Melissa; son Gary and his daughter Ai; daughter Janice; son David and his wife Beth and their children Jack, Peter, and Phoebe; sister, Lucile Lance; sister-in-law, Alice Jones; brother-in-law, Vern Hulit; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; all by whom he will be deeply missed, but have so many wonderful memories of him to cherish. He will never be forgotten.
He graduated from High School in 1944 and began an almost 50-year career as a heavy equipment truck mechanic. Prior to and during the Korean War, he was a defense worker building airplanes and working at the Red River Arsenal in Texas. A government construction job brought him to Oregon, where he worked in the building of The Dalles Dam in the mid-1950s. Upon completion of that project, he moved to Portland and resumed his mechanic career, spending several years repairing and maintaining trucks for the Frank Chevrolet Dealership, Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and Miller Beer.
In 1963, he married Virginia Jones. They raised four children in the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood of NE Portland. Being involved in his children's activities "made" his life. He especially enjoyed his years coaching and umpiring Little League baseball games. He was also a Cub Scout Leader and would always volunteer wherever needed.
He was most happy when helping others and enjoyed doing maintenance and repair work. He had such a gift for using tools, and it was always said there was nothing he could not "fix".
He retired from Gil's Truck Repair Company twenty yeas ago, but would go in and "help out" until 1994 when he required hip surgery.
After retiring, he enjoyed making several trips across the US, visiting several different areas of the country. He loved all types of music, attending the Opera and symphony concerts, but his favorites were Blue Grass and Country & Western. He loved to read and watch TV. War Stories and Westerns brought him much enjoyment, as did Major League Baseball.
He was baptized in 1989 and found peace, joy, and happiness in becoming part of the Eastside Family.
He was a very humorous person, and was bringing many laughs to his friends and caretakers right up to the very end of his life.
He is pre-deceased by his parents, Aunts, Uncles, cousins, friends, and co-workers; two brothers, Calvin and David Richards; brothers-in-law, Willard Lance and Larry Jones; and sisters-in-law, Orestine Richards and Sylvia Hulit.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; son Douglas and his wife Linda, and their daughters Julia and Melissa; son Gary and his daughter Ai; daughter Janice; son David and his wife Beth and their children Jack, Peter, and Phoebe; sister, Lucile Lance; sister-in-law, Alice Jones; brother-in-law, Vern Hulit; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; all by whom he will be deeply missed, but have so many wonderful memories of him to cherish. He will never be forgotten.
Funeral Service
Eastside Church of Christ
9030 Northeast Glisan Street
Portland
,
OR
US
97220
Thursday, June 7, 2012, 11:00 AM
Cemetery
Lincoln Memorial Park
11801 SE Mt Scott Blvd
Portland
,
OR
US
97266
Thursday, June 7, 2012, 1:00 PM
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Vernon Edward Richards, please visit our flower store.