William Ray Richardson (1927 - 2014)

Born 30 Nov 1927 in Melbourne, Izard, Arkansas, United States

Died 6 Jul 2014 at age 86 in Batesville, Independence, Arkansas, United States

Biography

Obituary

Mr. Richardson, known as "Bill" to his many friends, died in Batesville on Sunday morning, July 6, 2014, after being diagnosed recently with leukemia. He was 86 years old.

Bill was born on Nov. 30, 1927 in Melbourne to the late I.B. and Annie H. Richardson. He grew up in the town, attended Melbourne High School, and was a graduate of the Class of 1946. He attended Arkansas Polytechnic College (now Arkansas Tech University) and received an Associate degree in 1948. He then enlisted in the United States Air Force and was accepted into an officer and pilot training program in 1954, after which he flew jet fighter and trainer aircraft. Retiring from the Air Force as a Major after a 20-year career in 1968, he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he began a second career as a deputy in the Shelby County Sherriff's Department. After his final retirement in 1993, he remained in Memphis until returning to Arkansas in 2011. He was a long-time member of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Memphis, and a current member of Calvary Baptist Church in Batesville.

Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lorene Richardson (née Miller) of Batesville, a brother, John E. Richardson of Portland, Oregon, his son Ray E. Richardson (Nanette) of Herndon, Virginia, and three grandchildren, Philip M. Richardson (Katherine) of Waynesboro, Virginia, Meredith C. Richardson of Dresden, Germany, and Rebecca E. Richardson of Herndon, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and four sisters.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 12, 2014, at Roller-Crouch Funeral Home Chapel in Batesville.

Burial will be at Zion Cemetery under the direction of Roller-Crouch Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Ray Richardson, Philip Richardson, Douglas Miller, Daniel Miller and Calvin Jernigan. Honorary pallbearers are Wesley Miller, John Bennett, John Guthrie, Donald Helm, James Bryant, James Gardner, and Harold Wilson.

Visitation will be prior to the service from noon until 2:00 p.m., Saturday at the funeral home.

Sources

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 10 September 2020), memorial page for Willie Ray “Bill” Richardson (30 Nov 1927–6 Jul 2014), Find a Grave Memorial no. 132453010, citing Zion Cemetery, Izard County, Arkansas, USA ; Maintained by Ray E. Richardson (contributor 46893427) .