Richardson, William K. 1910-1980

RICHARDSON, OBRIEN, TURNBULL, COLLETT, COLLINS, CALDWELL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/23/2012 at 15:15:00

The Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Jan. 14, 1980

MR. RICHARDSON RITES TODAY

William K. Richardson, 69, of 912 Spring St., executive secretary of the Poweshiek County Veterans Affairs Commission, died Friday noon at Grinnell General Hospital.

The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with the Rev. Fr. Harry Linnenbrink officiating. Organist will be Kathleen Heffner and pallbearers will be Clarence Innis, Raymond Baker, Marion Gibson, Harold Heinle, Max Lincoln and Bill Davenport. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Marion Gibson, commander, and Edwin M. Richardson, chaplain, of the Grinnell Veterans Ceremonial Unit, with burial at Hickory Grove Cemetery, Newburg.

The Scripture service was conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday at the Smith Funeral Home.

The son of Frank and Elizabeth O'Brien Richardson, he was born Nov. 14, 1910, at Newburg. He was raised by the Edmond and Sylvia O'Brien family at Grinnell. He was a graduate of Grinnell High School.

Mr. Richardson worked as a sectionman for the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad for nearly 30 years. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II at the Kanehoe Naval Air Station in Hawaii.

On June 18, 1933, he was married to Jean Turnbull at Grinnell. He was a past commander of Focht-Tennant Post No.53, American Legion, and had served as Legion district vice-commander. He had earned the Mortarboard Award from the Legion. He was also a member of the Forty and Eight and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his wife; a son, W. Kendall Richardson of Los Angeles, Calif.; five grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Mary Collett of Cedar Rapids; two half brothers, Jerry Richardson of Chicago, Ill., and Scott Richardson of Oklahoma City, Okla.; a half sister, Mrs. Frances Collins of Miami, Fla.; and a foster brother, Clifford O'Brien of Burlington.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his foster parents; a brother, Eddie Richardson; a sister, Margaret Caldwell; and a foster brother, C.J. "Chink" O'Brien.