IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Roy L.
Richards
September 3, 2016
Obituary
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Roy L. Richards, 88, of West Des Moines, Iowa, and formerly of Elkhart, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the Heritage Healthcare Facility in West Lafayette, Ind., at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3.
He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., July 31, 1928, to the late Louis and Lucille (Webb) Richards, and later married Evelyn "Joan" Moore in Elkhart in 1951.
She preceded him in death along with a brother, sister and granddaughter Diana Richards.
Surviving are his children, Raymond "Rocky" (Linda) Richards of Lafayette, Richard (Jeannie) Richards of Columbis, S.C. and Jackelyn "Jacke" (Thomas) Atkins of West Des Moines; grandchildren Andrew (Jami) Atkins, Donald (Shelly), Timothy, Ray "Nick" (Breanna) and Jacob Richards; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.
Roy's life will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart, with visitation beginning there at 4 p.m.. Family friend George McCreary and Pastor John Utley will officiate and military honors will be rendered by Elkhart DAV No. 19 and the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard.
In accordance with his wishes, Roy will be cremated following the services and buried in Olive Cemetery at a later date.
Roy was a self-employed heating and air conditioning (HVAC) technician for more than 30 years. During that time, he spent almost 10 years teaching HVAC at the Elkhart Area Career Center as well as serving as Elkhart General Hospital's engineering maintenance supervisor. He was a member of the Refrigeration Engineer's Society, Osceola American Legion Post No. 308 and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. He also served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
In Lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Elkhart Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
He was born in Knoxville, Tenn., July 31, 1928, to the late Louis and Lucille (Webb) Richards, and later married Evelyn "Joan" Moore in Elkhart in 1951.
She preceded him in death along with a brother, sister and granddaughter Diana Richards.
Surviving are his children, Raymond "Rocky" (Linda) Richards of Lafayette, Richard (Jeannie) Richards of Columbis, S.C. and Jackelyn "Jacke" (Thomas) Atkins of West Des Moines; grandchildren Andrew (Jami) Atkins, Donald (Shelly), Timothy, Ray "Nick" (Breanna) and Jacob Richards; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.
Roy's life will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9, at Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart, with visitation beginning there at 4 p.m.. Family friend George McCreary and Pastor John Utley will officiate and military honors will be rendered by Elkhart DAV No. 19 and the U.S. Army Funeral Honor Guard.
In accordance with his wishes, Roy will be cremated following the services and buried in Olive Cemetery at a later date.
Roy was a self-employed heating and air conditioning (HVAC) technician for more than 30 years. During that time, he spent almost 10 years teaching HVAC at the Elkhart Area Career Center as well as serving as Elkhart General Hospital's engineering maintenance supervisor. He was a member of the Refrigeration Engineer's Society, Osceola American Legion Post No. 308 and the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. He also served honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
In Lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial donations be made to the Elkhart Lutheran Church of the Redeemer.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Roy L. Richards, please visit our flower store.
Services
Funeral Service
September
9
Starts at 6:00 pm