Riley Ross Richards

On the afternoon of September 22, 2019, Riley Ross Richards, Jr. passed away at the age of 86. Riley was born on December 21,1932 in Shiloh, Texas to Riley Ross, Sr. and Erma (Stevenson) Richards. He served honorably in the United States Army, where he sparred and remained undefeated on the boxing team and fought in the Korean War. Following his service to our nation, Riley worked for and ultimately retired from Mrs. Baird’s Bakery, where he specialized in supervision, production, and maintenance. On June 25, 1975, Riley married Frances Shirley Ebarb in a family ceremony in San Augustine, Texas. He belonged to the American Legion and the VFW. While staying with family during Hurricane Harvey, Riley dedicated his life to Jesus Christ. A year later, Riley made an outward profession of faith and was baptized by his grandson, TJ Richards, in the presence of his family on Thanksgiving Day 2018.

Affectionately known to his 16 grandchildren as Popo, Riley was a man of numerous interests, skills, and talents. He was proficient in the maintenance and repair of many types of machinery. There was no car he could not fix and he taught several family members how to change oil and tires. He enjoyed many sports, including fishing, hunting, waterskiing, and, in particular, golf. He was proud to have achieved a hole-in-one on four occasions and served as course marshal at the Longwood and World Houston golf courses. Riley loved animals, particularly horses and dogs and he is fondly remembered as often having a dog nearby. In his leisure time, he enjoyed watching the Houston Astros and Western movies, playing poker, and traveling. He and his wife, Frances, traveled to 47 of the 50 states! After retirement, Riley loved spending time driving his golf cart. His family remembers him as nearly invincible, affectionately recalling the two times he went down a deep creek ravine in his golf cart and emerged, unscathed, to tell the tale! Known for his dry sense of humor, Riley greatly enjoyed teasing and playing jokes to startle his loved ones. No member of the family was exempt from his good-natured goading and pranks, and everyone knew it to be an extension of his love for them.

Riley is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 44 years, Frances Richards, his six children, Vicki Mobley, Terry (Tori) Richards, Becky (Jimmy) Slovacek, Rhonda DeLoache, Renee Abernathy, and Bill, Jr. (Grace) DeLoache, his brothers James and Bill (Sandy) Richards, and his sister, Nell Hudnall. Riley will be forever remembered and admired by his 16 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Riley, Sr. and Erma Richards.

A celebration of Riley’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 at 2:00pm at Earthman Resthaven Funeral Home, 13102 North Freeway, Houston with visitation beginning at 12:00pm. Interment and a 21-gun salute will follow at 3:00pm. Riley’s grandsons will serve as pallbearers.