Mr. Gene C Richards

Gene C Richards, 92, passed away on April 24, 2022, Services: 11:00 AM, Friday, May 6, 2022, at Keller United Methodist Church, 1025 Johnson Rd in Keller. Visitation: 5 to 7 pm, Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Bluebonnet Hills Funeral Home, Blvd 26 in Colleyville.

Gene was the 5th of 10 siblings, born Sept 13, 1929, in Nolan County, near Divide to David Andrew Richards & Emma Evans Richards. The family moved to Scurry County 1n 1937, where he attended Hermleigh schools, graduating from High School in 1947. He worked on surveying crews doing seismograph work, before being inducted into the Army in January 1951. He married Joyce Mathiews of Eastland, TX, 4 days before leaving for Army service. After Basic & Leaders training, he was accepted into the Army’s Artillery OCS at Ft Sill, OK. Soon after grad-uation & commissioning, he and most of his class were sent to Korea for a tour of combat duty. He flew 219 artillery missions as an air observer in the Cessna L-19s, earning the Air Medal w/ 4 Bolc’s.

After returning from Korea, he was released from AD, worked briefly for Haliburton in west TX, then enrolled in Eng. College at UT in Austin on the GI Bill in January 1954. In January 1958 he received his BSEE and moved to the Fort Worth area to begin a 34-yr career with TESCO, retiring in 1992. In 2014 he was inducted into Ft Sill’s FA OCS Hall of Fame.

He was preceded in death by his 1st wife, Joyce in 1971, his 2nd wife Martha (France) Richards in 1992, and 4 of his 5 brothers and all 4 sisters: Myrtle “Montie” Jean (Richards) Sager, Curtis, Bill, Jack (twin), and Juanita (Richards) Smith, David Jr “Tuny”, Nancy (Richards) Gandee, and Peggy Sue Richards Heap. Grandsons: Marc Anthony Richards, Joseph Connor Pohorenec.

Survivors: wife of 23 yrs, Judy Starkey Richards; brother Bob; sons and daughters Gary France (Leta Youngblood), Deedee (Richards) Munchrath (Brad), Debbie (France) Pohorenec, Linda Richards, and Mark Richards (Marla), 7 grandkids: Robert, Chris, Colby, Calvin, Mason, Mitchell, & Marshall; 7 great-grandkids.

Additionally, his union with Judy included Don Starkey, Stacey (Starkey) Blaido (Jeremy), and Dori Starkey.

In remembrance of Gene Richards life, the family asks in lieu flowers please make charitable donations to:

Korean War Veteran Association,

General Walton H. Walker Chapter 215,

In care of A. J. Key

5506 emerald Park Blvd,

Arlington, TX 76017

All memorial gifts to fund Korean War – Korean Defense Memorial in Arlington

And/Or

Keller United Methodist Church,

The Resource Center

1025 Johnson Rd

Keller, TX 76248

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Richards family.