S. Richardson
March 15, 1928 — August 17, 2009
S. Richardson
Samuel Leo Richardson age 81 of Parker, Colorado formerly of Arkadelphia passed away on August 17, 2009. He was born March 15, 1928 just outside Amity, Arkansas to John Riley and Zoe Evelyn Wheeler Richardson. Leo was the fifth of seven Richardson children. His parents, beloved wife, Mary Kay; two brothers, R. J. and Idos ; and one sister, Mary Lois preceded him in death.
Leo's childhood was spent working and playing on the family farm where they raised cotton and had livestock.
He attended 1st through 8th grade at Center Ridge School which was walking distance from their farm with his siblings and playmates. He went to Amity High School but dropped out after the 10th grade to join the Navy. He was only 17 years old at the time and his mother had to sign the paperwork for him. He served in the Navy on Johnston Island, Hawaii from 1946-1948 as a carburetor mechanic.
In the fall of 1948, Leo attended one semester at Abilene Christian and then transferred to Harding in the spring of 1949 where he was a business major. He was introduced to Mary Kay Hollingsworth by a friend in the men's glee club and was immediately smitten. They began courting and married September 3, 1950.
Leo went on to graduate from Oklahoma Christian College in 1962 with a degree in religion. His love for the Lord led him to become a full-time pulpit minister starting in Oklahoma and then in Illinois, Arkansas and Colorado. To augment a young minister's salary, he also worked as a life insurance salesman, school bus driver and radio disc jockey.
Through the years, Leo did mission work not only in the United States, but in Canada, Jamaica, Philippines, South Africa, Australia and Bermuda.
Leo was a chaplain and grief counselor for Porter Adventist Hospital for 11 years. He retired in 2004 but continued to author three books as well as wrote a weekly article for The Standard newspaper published out his hometown of Amity, Arkansas.
Survivors include four children, Rebecca of Genesco, Illinois; Randall and wife, Kathy of Aurora, Colorado; Risa of Canon City, Colorado and Robbe of Littleton, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Shannon, Jennifer, Shane, Meredith, Shelley, Jillian, Shaun, Jared and Alysa; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louise Atha of Forney, Texas; Altie Williams of Amity, Arkansas; and one brother Jerry (Betty) Richardson of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Leo simply said " As a man of integrity filled with the spirit of God".
Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, August 22, 2009 at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Interment with military honors will be in Jones Cemetery in Amity, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.
Leo's childhood was spent working and playing on the family farm where they raised cotton and had livestock.
He attended 1st through 8th grade at Center Ridge School which was walking distance from their farm with his siblings and playmates. He went to Amity High School but dropped out after the 10th grade to join the Navy. He was only 17 years old at the time and his mother had to sign the paperwork for him. He served in the Navy on Johnston Island, Hawaii from 1946-1948 as a carburetor mechanic.
In the fall of 1948, Leo attended one semester at Abilene Christian and then transferred to Harding in the spring of 1949 where he was a business major. He was introduced to Mary Kay Hollingsworth by a friend in the men's glee club and was immediately smitten. They began courting and married September 3, 1950.
Leo went on to graduate from Oklahoma Christian College in 1962 with a degree in religion. His love for the Lord led him to become a full-time pulpit minister starting in Oklahoma and then in Illinois, Arkansas and Colorado. To augment a young minister's salary, he also worked as a life insurance salesman, school bus driver and radio disc jockey.
Through the years, Leo did mission work not only in the United States, but in Canada, Jamaica, Philippines, South Africa, Australia and Bermuda.
Leo was a chaplain and grief counselor for Porter Adventist Hospital for 11 years. He retired in 2004 but continued to author three books as well as wrote a weekly article for The Standard newspaper published out his hometown of Amity, Arkansas.
Survivors include four children, Rebecca of Genesco, Illinois; Randall and wife, Kathy of Aurora, Colorado; Risa of Canon City, Colorado and Robbe of Littleton, Colorado; nine grandchildren, Shannon, Jennifer, Shane, Meredith, Shelley, Jillian, Shaun, Jared and Alysa; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Louise Atha of Forney, Texas; Altie Williams of Amity, Arkansas; and one brother Jerry (Betty) Richardson of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
When asked how he wanted to be remembered, Leo simply said " As a man of integrity filled with the spirit of God".
Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, August 22, 2009 at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia. Interment with military honors will be in Jones Cemetery in Amity, Arkansas. Visitation will be 6-8 PM Friday at the funeral home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of S. Richardson, please visit our flower store.
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