Rockford Howard Richardson

September 5, 2024. Born on March 15, 1942, in Livingston, Tennessee, and raised in

Akron, Ohio, Rocky graduated from Springfield High School in 1960. He was an active

member of the debate team and basketball team. He continued his studies at Ohio

Wesleyan University and Bowling Green State University, where he was president of his

fraternity, Delta Tau Delta. While attending college, Rocky joined the United States

Marine Corps in 1962 and served until 1968. He was a proud Marine and attained the

rank of Sergeant (E-5). He graduated from Bowling Green University in 1964 with a BS

degree in Business Administration. He received his degree of Juris Doctor in 1969 from

Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, and was initiated into the Phi Alpha

Delta Law Fraternity. He practiced law in Columbus and New Lexington, Ohio for many

years.

Rocky was an avid reader and read the Akron Beacon Journal, The Columbus Dispatch,

The St. Petersburg Times and many other online publications until his death. He loved

golfing, fishing, playing cards, and watching football. He was a passionate OSU Buckeye

fan. He loved history and genealogy and spent years tracing branches of his family tree

back to the 1800’s and 1700’s. When visiting Columbus, he loved to lunch at his favorite

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in German Village and eat their Bahama Mama specialty. He

enjoyed an occasional scotch or glass of wine. He loved going out to lunch and could not

resist a Snickers candy bar. As a result of some of these passions, Rocky was always in

the process of “going back to the gym”.

Most importantly, Rocky had a strong Christian faith. He believed death was not the end,

but rather a new beginning. He devoted much of his time volunteering in his church’s

youth group, teaching adult Christian education, working with the Pack a Snack

program, serving on Via de Cristo teams, and multiple church committees and projects.

He also volunteered to teach reading through the Laubach Literacy Program. He and his

wife currently attend Park Place Church in Pinellas Park.

Rocky is preceded in death by his parents, Allene Nation Richardson and Delton

Richardson; sister, Frances Scott; son, Jeffrey Richardson. He is survived by his loving

and devoted wife of 50 years, Karen; daughters: Jill (Joseph) Boetsch, Columbus, OH,

and Stacie (Craig) Rennick), St Pete, FL; and stepmother, Renate Richardson, Livingston,

TN; and other family members Rocky loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Park Place Church, 4400 70th Ave N, Pinellas

Park, FL 33781 on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM. A reception will follow. In

lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Park Place Church or SUNCOAST Hospice in

memory of Rocky. To share a special memory about Rocky, please visit

www.Dignitymemorial.com.