Robert Franklin Richards

Staff Sergeant Robert Franklin (Bob/Rich) Richards has gone to be with the Lord on February 8, 2026.

Born August 6, 1928 to Robert Franklin and Esther Hardwick Richards in Janesville Illinois.

He attended Janesville Elementary School. 

He joined the marines in 1944, at the age of 16 and served eight years. After being honorably discharged he joined the Army and served until retiring in 1965. 

While serving in the military he was a drill instructor and he was a member of different sport teams while serving. He was on the football, basketball, and boxing teams where he did exhibition events with the Globetrotters and Sugar Ray Leonard. He served in Triest Italy, Korea, Vietnam, Germany, ending in the United States.

 In 1955, while in Germany, he met his beloved Erika Penzialik from East Berlin. She preceded him in death in 2000.

After retiring from the military, he got a college degree in Engineering and worked with Brown and Root construction in Houston Texas for 25 years.
He was a member of the American Legion chapter 454 and the VFW. He was a 32nd degree mason with Golden Trowel as well as a member of Scottish Rites and York Rites.

He was a major supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Disabled Veterans, American Heroes, The Marine Museum, World War ll Veterans Committee, Wounded Warriors, The American Cancer Society, and The Navajo Children’s School. He was also a staunch supporter and advocate for all veteran brothers and sisters while assisting them in many ways.

He owns numerous commendations from the Legion, Masons, Brown and Root construction, Military, and World War ll Veterans Committee.
He flew the American flag daily with a salute every morning and evening. He could tell you anything you want to know about that flag. He was honoring every veteran in the cemetery with a flag on every special occasion which he purchased himself. He said they deserve that.
He was preceded in death by his father, mother, step father, two sisters, four brothers, and his wife Erika. He is survived by two sisters, Earlene Morgan of Franklin, Texas, and Linda Poore of Dawson Georgia and a brother Ronald Spicer of Bismarck, Illinois and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation will be done at Memorial Funeral Home in Hearne, Texas with graveside service at Franklin Cemetery on March 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM.