Larry Charles Richardson

June 15, 1939 - May 30, 2024

Larry C. Richardson passed away on the evening of May 30, 2024, in Fountain Valley, CA. Known among his many friends and family for his graciousness and kindness, Larry always offered a word of encouragement and was genuinely interested in the well-being of others. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Larry was born in Wenatchee, WA, to Harold and Alice Richardson, both of whom preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Joan Bowman of Spokane, WA and his brother, Sam Richardson (Kathy Fischer) of Mead, WA. Larry also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, and countless individuals who relied on his guidance throughout the years.

After graduating from Lewis & Clark High School in 1957, Larry joined the US Navy, serving for three years. Following his service, he finished his education with a business degree from Eastern Washington University. Larry then embarked on a successful career with IBM in their office products sales division, where he began building his large and colorful circle of friends. Later, he became an award-winning sales representative for Magnavox in Torrance, CA. In 1980, Larry turned his analytical skills to real estate investment and financing, enjoying great success in Southern California. Throughout this time, he maintained a successful 45-year partnership with his brother, Sam.

Larry's passion for adventure extended beyond his professional life. He participated in dozens of sports car road rallies, often navigating his teams to victory and creating countless stories and adventures. His rallying career peaked in the 2000 Alcan 5000 rally, where his Subaru team outperformed all others, including the heavily favored Isuzu factory team

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Larry took up racewalking in the early 1980s. He completed two marathons, racewalked in Rome and China, and participated in the World Senior Games. His interests also included bicycling and scuba diving, forming the foundation of lifelong friendships that Larry deeply cherished.

Larry's most impactful legacy can be found in the young people he guided through high school and secondary education. No academic or administrative problem was too complex for him to tackle, and nobody worked the phone quite like Larry. He often said, "Read a book about it. You will always pick up something. It’s about the size of the fight in the dog."

Despite never marrying, Larry had an incredible number of people who knew him as a Grandpa. He will be deeply missed and forever loved. We could go on, but Larry would get a little nervous about the cost of the word count. God bless, and please keep our friend, neighbor, brother, uncle, grandpa, and advisor in your hearts.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen on W 19th in Costa Mesa, CA where Larry would occasionally hand out gifts from Santa Claus.

Arrangements are under the direction of Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Mortuary & Memorial Park and a private service will be held there in July.