Robert Richardson's Obituary
On January 31, 2025, Robert (Bob) Richardson passed peacefully through that thin veil into eternity with his Lord.
Bob was born January 4, 1955, in Newton, KS, to Douglas and LaVeta Richardson. As the youngest of 4 boys, Bob’s constant output of curiosity and mischief kept everyone on their toes. His childhood was marked by many wonderful family vacations, road-tripping and camping in nearly every corner of the country. This is undoubtedly where he developed his love for travel, especially to the mountains.
Bob graduated from Newton High School in 1973 and went on to study Biology at the University of Kansas. He was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and loved retelling stories of his alleged involvement in many collegiate pranks. All in good fun, of course, Bob could never resist a little fun and a good laugh. He proudly wore the title of Jayhawk Alum and may have even converted some of his Oklahoma family into the crimson and blue tide. Rock Chalk!
Following in the footsteps of his father, Bob worked for the Santa Fe Railroad for many years. After settling into family life, he found his professional home in sales and ultimately as an entrepreneur, where he was able to put to good use all those Biology and Organic Chemistry notebooks he saved from college, developing a unique soil aeration product that is still on the market today.
While his children were growing, he spent untold hours at ballparks, cheering on softball teams, faithfully scorekeeping, and video recording hundreds of games. After all the kids were grown and the tournaments were finished, summers became about trips to the mountains. He always looked forward to their annual trip to Glacier National Park to hike, camp and indulge in huckleberry flavored pastries and ice cream.
In his final years, dementia took many things from Bob. But his infamous smile remained. Anyone who met Bob found him impossibly likeable, with that twinkle-eyed smile that lit up everything around him. Even in his final days, he smiled at the mention of his homegoing, to see Jesus and be reunited with his mom.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brothers, Doug and Lou Richardson. He is survived and missed by his wife, Lori; daughters Amy Holzhueter (Bill) and Shana Nelson (Bo); stepchildren Lindsay Little (Andy), Kyle Houston (Chrissy) and Samantha Lee (Brad); and brother David Richardson.
Bob’s legacy of joy, adventure, and maybe a little mischief lives on in his grandchildren; Aviva and Liam Holzhueter; Kalina, Eliora, Beck and Anders Nelson; Kennedi and Drew Little; Kylie, Callahan and Connor Houston; and Gracie and Gage Lee.
A celebration of Bob’s life will be held Thursday, February 13 at 10:00am, at Floral Haven Funeral Home: 6500 South 129th E Ave., Broken Arrow, OK 74012.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Clarehouse Hospice Home, to whom is owed a debt of gratitude for the love, care and dignity they showed Bob, during his final days.
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