Donald Meloy Richardson

Richardson, Donald Meloy Donald M. Richardson was born Nov 7, 1928 in Peoria, IL and passed away while surrounded by his family on Mar 6, 2014 in Phoenix, AZ. He married Viola M. Weiprecht on Jun 8, 1963 in Las Vegas, NV, and raised their family in Phoenix. Donald served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War with Company A, 84th Engineer Battalion, earning the Korean Service medal w/5 Bronze Service stars and the WW II Victory Medal. During his service, he trained with the 11th Airborne Division and logged 1134 training and operational parachute jumps. After his military service, he returned to Phoenix and construction work as an ironworker with Union 75, working beside his father building many of the multi-level buildings in Phoenix and other structures such as the Glen Canyon Dam. His last construction job was working on the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station west of Phoenix. Donald was an avid golfer and photographer, playing golf and taking pictures at every opportunity and was a world traveler with the ability to speak several languages. Donald is preceded in death by his parents Mary B. (Blake) Richardson and Lester G. Richardson of East Peoria, IL; step-children, Butch Williamson and Mike D. Williamson. He is survived by his beloved spouse Viola M. Richardson 86 of Phoenix, AZ; children, Lester G. (Shelley) Richardson of Oak Harbor, WA. and Donald M. (Wendy) Richardson Jr. of Phoenix, AZ; one step-child, Joyce A. (Mike) Malone of Vernon, AZ; his brother Douglas L. (Mary) Fries, 84 of Tomah, WI; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 11:00am at A.L. Moore Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 W. Bethany Home Rd, Phoenix, Az with funeral service at 12pm. Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Az immediately following the funeral service. Please offer condolences at www.almoore-grimshaw.com.