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Don Richardson © Trout Funeral Home & Crematory 04-2019 Submitted by: Glenn
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October 6, 1936 - March 29, 2019
Don Richardson, 82, of Ponca City passed away at home with his family on Friday morning, March 29, 2019. The celebration of his life will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, April 5, 2019 at First Baptist Church located at 218 S. 6th Street in Ponca City. The sanctuary is located on the corner of East Central Ave and 5th Street. Pastors Michael Taylor and French McLemore will be officiating. Following the ceremony, Don will be laid to rest at Odd Fellows Cemetery. Friends are invited to visitation at Trout Funeral Home at 505 W. Grand in Ponca City on Wednesday, April 3rd, until 8:00pm and during a family-attended visitation on Thursday, April 4th, from 6:00-8:00pm.
Don was born to Carl Andrew Richardson and Bealah Verdie Wooldridge Richardson on October 6, 1936 in Belle Plaine, KS. Growing up on a farm outside of Winfield, KS, during the Great Depression and World War II years helped provide the life experiences that would make up and define his character in later years. The respect for the land, the reward of hard work, the meaning of your word being your bond, the value of a dollar, the ability to be resourceful, the ability to extend charity with dignity and the importance of the love for your God and your family were all very important to Don. He was a proud graduate of Winfield High School in 1954 and loved attending their reunions and discussing all things involving his fellow Vikings.
He married the true love of his life, Viola Elizabeth Conner, from Ark City, KS, on November 18, 1956, and they made their home in Ponca City where he was a computer systems analyst at Conoco until his retirement in 1993 after 33 years of faithful service. They were blessed with good health and the ability to travel and see the magnificence of the world together. They both were active members of the First Baptist Church serving their church, their community and their Lord in a variety of positions over the past 50 years.
In addition to being a beloved and supportive husband to Vi for over 62 years, Don was also a devoted father to his two children, Sherry Richardson Pate and Monte Richardson. He is dearly and fondly remembered for his unconditional love, his compassion, his guidance, his support and most importantly his physical and emotional involvement in his children’s lives. He was always present at their activities and was definitely their biggest fan. Long after the countless games and events of their childhood became distant activities, the memories made by spending so much time with their dad left an immeasurable positive influence on their lives and were invaluable as a template for the parents they both strived to become.
Don took his game up a notch with the arrival of his four grandchildren who obviously became another pride and joy in his life. His love for them even trumped the love he had for his turquoise 1965 Ford Fairlane, a recognizable icon as he drove around town for the past 54 years. He and Vi made countless trips from Ponca City to Dallas and Houston to be part of his grandkids’ lives and events for the past 27 years, thus influencing another generation with his love, support and mentoring. They cannot remember an important time in their lives when he was not there to share it with them and they will treasure the vacations spent with him and the visits to Ponca City, where he would load them in his Ford and take them around town with an inevitable and anticipated stop at the donut shop.
Everyone who knew Don loved him because of his genuine character, his amazing memory, his unique gift of story telling and his true generosity. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten. His unique character traits and personality will live on in the hearts and souls of those who got to know him and were thus impacted by his life.
He is now reunited in heaven to celebrate with his loved ones including his infant daughter, Linda Jo Richardson; his parents, Carl & Bealah Richardson; his brother, Elmer Richardson; his brother and sister-in-law, Keith & Sarah Richardson; his brother, Roger Richardson; his infant sister, Wanda Richardson; his wife’s parents, Gene & Lena Conner; his sisters-in-law, Ruth Richardson, Frances Conner & Naomi Pappan; and his nephews, Steve Richardson, Lynn Richardson, David Richardson, Robert Richardson & Marty Oleson.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Vi Richardson of Ponca City; his daughter and son-in-law, Sherry & Mike Pate of Dallas, TX; his son and daughter-in-law, Monte & Michelle Richardson of League City, TX; his grandsons, Conner Pate of New York City & Carson Pate of Dallas, TX; his granddaughter, Kelsey McNeil and her husband, Matt, of Kemah, TX; his granddaughter, Courtney Richardson of Dallas, TX; his brother and sister-in-law, Elden & Mary Richardson of Fairview Heights, IL; his sisters-in-law, Ozella Vince of Geuda Springs, KS and Claudine Richardson of Tucson, AZ; his brother-in-law, Wes Conner of Ark City, KS, along with many loving nieces and nephews.
Casket bearers will be Don’s longtime friends: Dee Lewis, Gilbert Scott, Don Reeves, Fred Randel, Don Long and Ron Baker. Honorary casket bearers are Ed O’Neil and Kenny Glasgow.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, OK, 74604 or by calling 580-762-9102 or First Baptist Church, 218 S. 6th Street, Ponca City, OK, 74601 or by calling 580-765-4427.
Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Crematory.
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