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Raymond Allen Richardson Jr., 84, reached out and took the hand of our Lord on Sept. 13, while in the loving home with his devoted family surrounding him. Allen, as most called him, was born in Buckingham on Nov. 22, 1936, to Raymond Allen Richardson Sr. and Gertrude Purvis Richardson.

He graduated from Buckingham Central High School in 1956 and joined the United States Air Force Jan. 1957. While stationed at Nellis Airforce Base in Las Vegas, he met his forever love, Kathy, and they were married Nov. 16, 1958. After four years serving the United States of America he was Honorably Discharged and remained in Las Vegas working hard at a Titanium plant and later as a carpenter.

In 1960, Allen and Kathy began raising their family of three daughters. In 1972, the family moved to Buckingham to settle on the Richardson family farm. Allen worked alongside his father and brother, Kenny, raising tobacco, cattle, swine, hay and corn as cash crops. He also always had an amazing garden that provided abundant nutrition for his family and others who he loved to share with.

Allen’s love for kids (of all ages) lead he and Kathy to work volunteering with the New Dominion School for Girls and Boys in Buckingham. He continued to have contact from many of the kids and staff over the years, demonstrating the mutual caring and the difference he made with them.

Allen & Kathy moved to Spotsylvania in 2003 and Allen worked for Minnieland Daycare where he was a teacher’s assistant. He taught the kids to plant a garden, build a playhouse and demonstrated God’s love to the children and parents. Through his work there he made lifelong friendships with his colleagues, the parents and children.

Allen was a lifelong member of Salem United Methodist Church in Buckingham. When he moved to Spotsylvania, Allen worshipped at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, where he volunteered during community pancake breakfasts and helped to keep the facility clean.

Family was the most important thing to Allen. He leaves behind his caring wife, Katherine Louise Reed Richardson, who has spent the last 20 years of their 63 using her gift of caring and organization to ensure his appointments and medications helped him to live a quality life; three daughters, Sandra Elizabeth (Gary); Linda Katherine (Rob); Virginia Ellen “Ginny” (Mike); seven grandchildren, Melissa Eve (Travis), Amanda Michelle (Jack), Emily Nicole, Kelsea Abigail (Andy), Sarah Elizabeth (Justin), Michael Allen and Mary Katherine “Katie”; TEN great-grandchildren and ONE great-great grandchild.

The family would like to thank those members of Allen’s healthcare team Dr. Narinder Aurora (Charlottesville), Dr. Jorge Dolojan, Dr. Anita Banerjee, Dr. Arnold Aguilar, Dr. Jonathon Posthumous, Dr. Nicquia Spain, The Team at SRMC and The MW Hospice Team.

A Celebration of Life open house will be held on Saturday, Oct. 9, please contact the family for further information.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in memory of Raymond Allen Richardson Jr. to Salem United Methodist Church, Dillwyn or Tabernacle United Methodist Fredericksburg.