William Richards

A retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Army, Bill, proudly served his country for 20 years and was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Bill’s level of dedication and service carried through all aspects of his life as he was a constant source of love and kindness to all those he touched including family, friends, and coworkers. If service and leadership were the pillars of his life, then his faith served as the guiding light. A man of faith, the importance of God and involvement in the church brought Bill a sense of peace. As a heavily involved member of St. Stephen Protomartyr Church, Bill was always willing to lend a hand to his fellow man.

The only things that brought Bill as much joy were his time spent on the golf course and the loving comfort of his family. There were countless hours that Bill spent either watching golf tournaments on TV or playing whenever he had spare time. However, nothing gave him more pride than when he became a grandfather. His connections with his grandchildren were a source of indescribable joy and he was always grateful for the time they had together. A loving and kind man, he will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.

Born in Washington, D.C., on March 7, 1933, to the late Clark and the late Mary Richards, Bill was the beloved husband of Mary Rodriguez and the late Patricia Richards. Beloved father of Michael, Edward Morse, Marybeth, and Cara; cherished grandfather of Adelyn, Grayson, and the late Hunter; and dear brother of the late Clark Murphy Richards, Jr., and the late Mary Catherine Richards.

Visitation Thursday, February 5, 2026, from 4pm until 8pm at Oehler Funeral Home, 2099 Miner Street, Des Plaines, IL. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, February 6, 2026, at 10am at St. Stephen Protomartyr, 1280 Prospect Ave, Des Plaines. Private cremation rites performed before inurnment at Arlington National Cemetery. For more information, please call (847) 824-5155.