|
It is with great regret and sorrow that I must notify of the death of our
classmate, Darwin “Punky” Richards, on June 13, 2022 in Greenville, NC, after a
courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease.
Punky is survived by his wife, Dolly; their children, Darla Rhea Richards (Angie
Slade) of Nashville, TN, Brett Richards of Seattle, WA, Bartt Richards (Angela)
of Plano, TX, Randa Richards Scott (Simon/Abby Willow) of Goldsboro, NC, Sharla
Richards Lincoln (Duffy) of Greenville, NC, Bryan Richards of Tallahassee, FL,
Brandon Richards (Faii) of Bangkok, and Kristal Richards Gauthier (Thomas) of
Greenville, NC; thirteen grandchildren, Austin, Melissa (Stephen), Zachary,
Bennett, Sarah, Samantha (Jesus), Sadie, Darwin, Maia, Roman, Chandler, Dillon
and Lillie; one great-grandchild, Laini Parker; his sister, Gloria Fields of
Winston Salem, NC, and her children, Richard and Wendy and their spouses and
children.
His Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, June 17, 2022 at St. James
United Methodist Church, 2000 E. 6th Street, Greenville, NC 27858. Visitation
will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m., immediately followed
by a military graveside service at Pinewood Memorial Park, 4150 E. 10th Street,
Greenville, NC 27858. A reception will be held following the graveside service
at St. James United Methodist Church.
Condolences may be sent to Dolly at 1953 Cherry Stone Lane, Greenville, NC
27858-9415.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Punky's memory may be made to St.
James United Methodist Church, 2000 E. 6th Street, Greenville, NC 27858.
Well done, Darwin. Be thou at peace.
Remembrances:
Class Memorial Pages\C-1 Punky Richards.pdf
Obituaries:
 Darwin Lee "Punky" Richards, 83, of Greenville, NC passed
away peacefully in his sleep on June 13, 2022, after a courageous battle with
Parkinson's Disease.
Born in South Norfolk, he was the oldest son of the late
Bernard Richards and Virginia Wilson Richards. He was preceded in death by his
parents and his younger brother, Rodney "Red" Richards.
His Celebration of Life will take place on Friday, June
17th at St. James United Methodist Church in Greenville. Visitation will begin
at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m., immediately followed by a
military graveside service at Pinewood Memorial Park. A reception will be held
following the graveside service at St. James UMC.
Darwin served his country from 1961 to 1964, earning his
Bachelor of Science in Engineering at West Point Military Academy (Class of
1961). Upon graduating, he served in the Army Corps of Engineers and as a
Training Officer with the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He
spent his post-military life in various roles within the fields of engineering,
manufacturing, human resources, insurance and project management.
His proudest accomplishment was his position as Founding
President and COO of Janus Development Group, whose mission it was to develop
and market assisted living devices for people with disabilities. Darwin
engineered and brought to market a patented anti-stuttering device, SpeechEasyŽ,
developed by researchers at East Carolina University’s School of Allied Health.
Darwin loved his Bill's Hot Dogs, attending the Down East
Wood Ducks baseball games (formerly the Kinston Indians), spending time with the
family, especially his grandkids, and watching sports on TV. A fun fact he liked
to share: he was offered a full ride to UNC on a football scholarship, but his
mother told him he was going to go to West Point. He was a devout member of St.
James UMC for the past 42 years, and his faith and relationship with God was a
central aspect of his life.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, and
great-grandfather, he is survived by his loving wife of almost sixty-one years,
Dolly Smith Richards and their eight children, Darla Rhea Richards (Angie Slade)
of Nashville, TN, Brett Richards of Seattle, WA, Bartt Richards (Angela) of
Plano, TX, Randa Richards Scott (Simon/Abby Willow) of Goldsboro, NC, Sharla
Richards Lincoln (Duffy) of Greenville, NC, Bryan Richards of Tallahassee, FL,
Brandon Richards (Faii) of Bangkok, and Kristal Richards Gauthier (Thomas) of
Greenville, NC; thirteen grandchildren, Austin, Melissa (Stephen), Zachary,
Bennett, Sarah, Samantha (Jesus), Sadie, Darwin, Maia, Roman, Chandler, Dillon
and Lillie; one great-grandchild, Laini Parker; his sister, Gloria Fields of
Winston Salem, NC, and her children, Richard and Wendy and their spouses and
children.
The family would like to express our sincere gratitude to
the caregivers who took such wonderful care of Dad over the past year: Susan
Freeman, his Primary Care Provider with the VA; Elizabeth Bunn, his VA social
worker; Melvin Cooper, CNA, his daily personal caregiver; Quenecia Nobles, OT,
who facilitated acquiring all of his medical equipment; Georgia, Jim and Kaylee
(his PT team with Center Well Home Health [formerly Kindred]); Catrese and
Beverly (his nurses with Center Well); Buffy, his nutritionist at the VA;
Eastern Pines Fire/Rescue Department; St. James United Methodist Church's Food
Train ministry. These individuals and services were central in our ability to
keep Dad at home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to
St. James UMC at 2000 E. 6th St. Greenville, NC 27858.
|
