John Melville Richards

John Melville Richards, 93, of Cherokee Village passed from this life on November 5, 2018 at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 1, 1925 to the late William and Ruth Richards. John was a WWII veteran of the U.S. Navy serving most of his time on the USS Pennsylvania. He served on the Underwater Demolition Team while in the Navy. The Underwater Demolition Team later became what we know now as the Navy Seals. After the war he married his wife, Maxine Richards, and they had four children; John, Pete, Martie, and Dave. John began a career with Gates Rubber Company before taking a career and ultimately retiring with the United States Postal Service. When he retired he moved to Cherokee Village and became a medic (EMT) serving the Cherokee Village community. John would always say that “the first hundred years are the hardest”, and as a child of the great depression, veteran of WWII, and the father of four hard headed children those words may not have been any truer. He was a humorous and kind man who always put his family before himself and he will be greatly missed.

In addition to his parents, John is preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Richards; Brothers, Al Richards and Bill Richards; and Sister, Lois Porro.

John is survived by his sons, John A. Richards Sr.(Barbara) of Waxhaw, North Carolina, Pete Richards of Bono, and Dave Richards (Judy) of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter, Martie Richards (Ann) of Kirksville, Missouri; grandchildren, John A. Richards Jr. of Hutchison, Kansas, Tammy Rush (Bryan) of Wichita, Kansas, and Josh Richards (Krysta) of Bono; and great grandchildren, John A. “Trey” Richards III, David James “DJ” Rico, and Mason Richards.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 am – 11:00 am on Thursday, November 8, 2018 At Emerson Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at Oaklawn Cemetery in Cherokee Village, Arkansas.