Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson, 88, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the Putnam County Care Center in Unionville, MO, on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Bill had been a resident at the Care Center for three years.

William Junior Richardson was born in Martinstown, MO, on September 1, 1927, the son of William B. and Phoebe Ellen (Sparks) Richardson, who preceded him in death. He attended Martinstown schools before graduating from Unionville High School in 1945. He began teaching in rural Putnam County schools while attending Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman University) in the summer. He taught at Unionville elementary school until 1954 when he began a 30 year career as Executive Director of the local ASCS office of the USDA. Bill also raised cattle and farmed while working for the USDA.

Bill married Doris Veach in Unionville, MO, on May 24, 1950 and she survives at home. They first made their home on a farm east of Martinstown before moving to a farm one and half miles west of Unionville. Many, many trips were made to town on that country road, attending Putnam County activities and school functions. Bill and Doris have always been avid fans of Putnam County sports, and one year they were both selected as grand marshals of the Homecoming parade. Bill was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and of the Missouri Tigers. He and Doris spent 13 winters in Arizona after retirement. In 2003 Bill and Doris moved into Unionville where their large home became the entertainment center for bunches of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was a 30 year member of Rotary and a member of the Unionville First Christian Church.

In addition to Doris, Bill is survived by his six children: Billie (John A.) Ryals, Fred (Marsha) Richardson, and Bob Richardson, all of Unionville, MO; Sara (Danny) Viers of Franklin, TN; Kirk (Lynn) Richardson of St. Charles, MO; and Cathy (David) Spotts of Columbia, MO. Bill’s grandchildren are Brandi Fowler, John T. Ryals, Brooke Ryals, B. J. Richardson, Brittany Shaffer, Brenda Fowler, Reggie Brundage, Garret Richardson, Job Richardson, Kara Gatto, Jordan Viers, Ethan Viers, Kris Spotts, Skylar Spotts, Gus Richardson, Swayde Richardson, Jackie Edmundson, and Sierra Edmundson. Twenty-two great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren also survive as well as two sisters, Mary Virginia (Bill) Coy of Apache Junction, AZ, and Lavena Mitchell of Greentop, MO. Evelyn Richardson, a sister-in-law, survives as well as several nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by six brothers, Noah Richardson, Jessie Richardson (in infancy), Nova Richardson, Berdean Richardson, George Richardson, and Eugene Richardson; and one sister, Genevieve Butler.

Funeral services for Bill Richardson will be held at Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 4, 2015. Visitation will be on Saturday, October 3, 2015, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Interment will be at the Martinstown Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Martinstown Cemetery or to the Martinstown School and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.