ROBERT WAYNE “HAP RICHARDS
ROBERT WAYNE “HAP” RICHARDS
Robert Wayne Richards, son of Ernest and Elizabeth Moore Richards, was born at home near Tingley, Iowa on January 3, 1924. Robert’s nickname of ‘Hap,’ short for happy, was given to him by a teacher and it stuck with him for life. Hap was the captain of the Mount Ayr football team his senior year. He graduated from Mount Ayr high school in 1942. He served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Hap even hitchhiked to Great Lakes Naval Training Camp to begin his service.
Hap married Marilyn R. Denhart on June 11, 1950 in the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr. He worked for R.E.C. from 1947 until his retirement on February 1, 1989. Hap really enjoyed turning the electricity on to the rural farms for the first time. In addition to the regular job at R.E.C., Hap also did electrical work on the side. Hap was a scout master when David was growing up. He was active in the First Christian Church and was a deacon for several years. Hap loved to play golf and belonged to the Mount Ayr Country Club. He was also a member of Ringgold Post #172 American Legion. After Hap retired, he enjoyed working on small woodworking projects and visiting with the guys at Southwest Builders.
Hap passed away suddenly on December 20, 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Marion (Charles) Skinner, Bonnie (Bob) Pratt, Jane (Floy) Hutt, Allen (Lila) Richards, Bill Richards and Connie Jacobson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Raymond Sickels, Don (Lucille) Denhart, Doyle (Carolyn) Denhart and Margaret (Frank) McClurg, and parents-in-law, Lloyd and Lela Denhart.
Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Marilyn Richards; children, Debbie (Joe) Murphy and David (Lisa) Richards, all of Mount Ayr, Iowa; grandchildren, Nicole Murphy of Kansas City, Missouri, Wes (Amber) Richards of Leon, Iowa and Burton Murphy (special friend Molly Lynch) of Mount Ayr, Iowa; stepgrandchildren, Megan (Patrick) Smith of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Michael Poulos of Greenfield, Iowa; great-grandchildren, Emma and Jeffrey Richards; special friend, Paula Richards Rychnovsky; stepgreat-grandchildren, Katelynn, Elizabeth, Emily and Joshua; siblings, Charles (Donna) Richards of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Ann (Bill) Sickels of Brenhan, Texas and Sue Sickels of Indianola, Iowa; brother-in-law, Bob Jacobson of Carolina Shores, North Carolina, and sister-in-law, Jean Richards of Eugene, Oregon; nieces; nephews; other relatives, and friends.
A memorial fund has been established in his name to be decided later. Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr was in charge of the arrangements.
Services were held at the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr on Monday, December 24, 2012, with Rev. Chris Conklin officiating.
Musical selections included ‘In Color,’ ‘Heirlooms’ and ‘I’ll Fly Away.’
Casket bearers included Burton Murphy, Wes Richards, Nicole Murphy, Kelly Richards, Roland Jackson and Rick Fox.
Military rites were by Ringgold Post #172 and U.S. Navy Funeral Honors.
Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.
