William Richards

William Bill Thomas Richards, age 86 died May 1, 2011 at the Tumbleweed Nursing Home in Brownfield, Texas.

Bill was born July 25, 1924 to his parents Willie Salina Reid and Thomas Sidney Richards in Amarillo, Texas. Bill married his first wife Euvonne Jones on October 11, 1948 in Fort Worth, Texas and she preceded him in death April 6, 1980. He then married Martha Marty Flory White on March 15, 1994 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada and had 17 fun filled years of rock hunting, camping out, horse racing or just hanging out living life together.

Bill graduated from Dublin High School in Dublin, Texas in 1941 and attended John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville, Texas until he enlisted in the U.S. Army serving as a bomb disposal officer with the 11th Airborne Division during World War II and was discharged on September 6, 1946 with the rank of Captain. After he was discharged from the Army, he returned to school and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A M University in January of 1948. Bill worked for the Texas Highway Department in Stephenville, Texas, Fred Hess Consulting Engineers in Fort Worth, Texas, Duval County Engineering Company, Joe Ward Consulting Engineers, Wichita Falls, Texas, Atlantic Refining Company, W.H. Nichols General Contractors, of Dallas, Texas, Carlsbad Potash Operation, U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp in Carlsbad, New Mexico and finally settled down in Odessa to raise his family and work with the Odessa Synthetic Rubber Plant and The General Tire and Rubber Company, until he retired as a senior project engineer after 22 years of service.

Retirement was not for Bill for very long, he then became self employed as a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and truly found his love of the outdoors. He surveyed land all over Odessa and West Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Bill was a TRUE gentleman in every sense of the word. A man who was respected and honored for his compassion, honesty and integrity. A legacy that will live on forever. Although he is not with us now, he will live on in our hearts and someday we will all be together again.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Euvonne, his daughter Linda Fae and soninlaw Ron Hawkinson and his son Thomas Tommy Richards.

Bill is survived by his wife Marty Richards, of Odessa. His daughter Christine Schuessler and husband Jim of Gardnerville, Nevada, his stepchildren, John David White and wife Dina of Austin, Jo Lynn White and Mike Michel of Austin, Joy WelchMiller and husband Paul of San Angelo, and ex soninlaw Leon Welch of Pecos his grandchildren Nash Peterson and wife Kim of Denton, Kelly Strother and husband Jack of Frisco, Tx., Sheena McMillian and husband Charlie of Odessa, Jordan Richards of Odessa, Justin Chilton of Austin, Carl John Welch and Kaitlyn Welch The Twins of Odessa his Great Grandchildren William Miles Peterson of Denton, Harman, Hannah and Hunter Strother of Frisco, Tx., and Paul and Faith McMillian of Odessa, and a nephew, Bill McAdoo of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Services for Bill Richards will be Thursday, May 5, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Braswell officiating. Services are entrusted to Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.

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