Raymond L. Richards
DOVER, Fla. — A memorial service, celebrating the life of Raymond Lee Richards, 46, of Dover, Fla., will be held Saturday, May 10, at 5 p.m. at the Hillsboro Memorial Gardens in Brandon, Fla. A caring cremation has taken place.
Mr. Richards died unexpectedly at home on Wednesday, May 7, 2008. He was born on Oct. 10, 1961, in Parma Heights, Ohio, to Charles A. Richards and Patricia (Smith) Wolford. He was the grandson of the late David Roy and Zilla (Rector) Richards and the late Gerald and Eileen (Powell) Smith.
Raymond worked for Saia Motor Freight Way. He was a former independent truck driver. He graduated from River View High School in 1980. He enjoyed his family, gardening, farming and being an umpire for little league baseball games.
He is survived by his wife, Shelly Richards of the home; father, Charles A. Richards of Twinsburg, Ohio; mother and second father, Patricia and Jesse Wolford of Howard, Ohio; four daughters, Heather Beckelhymer of Drakes Beach, Va., Sarah Richards of Dover, Fla., Sydney Richards of Brandon, Fla., and Jessica Gibson of Tampa, Fla.; two sons, Joshua Branch of Ruskin, Fla., and Richard Gibson of Dover, Fla.; grandchildren, Norma, Jean, Laura, Cody, Wolfgang, Stallion and John; four brothers, David Richards of Howard, Ohio, Charles Richards of Dorset, Ohio, Dr. Michael Gentry of Thornville, Ohio, and Jason Richards of Columbus, Ohio; four sisters, Rhonda Ruffner of Lexington, N.C., Kimberly Cunningham of Dresden, Ohio, Kathrine Vickers of Walhonding, Ohio, and Jessica Smith of Howard, Ohio; and numerous other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his second mother, Dolores (Mantonya) Richards, on April 23, 1992; and one niece, Leigh Ruffner-Lucas.
Local arrangements are entrusted to Criss-Schoedinger Funeral Home, 179 Granville St., Newark. Visit www.CrissSchoedinger.com and click on the obituary link to sign an online guest book or to send an e-mail condolence.