John Walden Richards

John Walden Richards, 96, of Sidney, passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2017.  He was born August 4, 1921 on his grandfather's farm north of Sidney.  He was the only son of Charles F. and Sadie T. (Enders) Richards who preceded him in death, as did his 3 sisters, Jeannette (Richards) Dow, Francis (Richards) Stockstill and Mary K. (Richards) Ransdell. 

John is survived by his wife of almost 71 years, Betty L. (Lamphear) Richards, his four children; M. Suzanne (Richards) and Roger L. Lentz of Anna, Barbara K. (Richards) Ball of Fairport, NY, John C. and Marilyn L. Richards of Tipp City, OH, James A. and Juliana Richards of Charlotte, NC.  Ten grandchildren; Laura (Lentz) Fogt, Jason Fogt, Shawn F. Richards (Beth Salyers), H. Carter Ball, Katherine M. Lentz, J. Christian Ball, Matthew T. and Kate (Sutton) Richards, Sarah M. (Richards) and Fredrick V. Gillenwater, Mary Beth (Ball) and Michael F. Nerone, Julia A. (Richards) and Eddie M. Stottlemyer, CJ Richards.  Nine great-grandchildren; Jacob R. Fogt, Wyatt J. Fogt, Zada C. Gillenwater, Finley C. Gillenwater, Gavin M. Nerone, Griffin J. Nerone, Charlie W. Richards, Lucinda E. Richards, Harrison L. Stottlemyer and numerous nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.

John was a 1939 graduate of Sidney High School and the Lincoln Nebraska Aeronautical Institute.  He was an aircraft mechanic and worked at Wright Field in Dayton and served in the Naval Air Corps. during WW II, stationed in Guam.  After the war, he was employed at Ohio Aviation in Vandalia and completed his working years with TWA at the Dayton Airport.  John was a former member of the IUTIS Club, Sidney First Methodist Church, Shelby County Genealogical Society, Shelby County Historical Society and Sidney American Legion Post #217.

A Private Service will be held at the convenience of the family.  Interment will be at Pearl Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Shelby County Historical Society or a charity of the donor's choosing in John's memory.  Guestbook condolences and expressions of sympathy may be made to the Richards family at the funeral home's website, www.cromesfh.com

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