Bill Richardson

Raleigh

Everette "Bill" Leonard Richardson, Jr., 70, of Raleigh died on Saturday January 9, 2016. Bill was born in Charlotte, North Carolina on July 19, 1945 to the late Everette Richardson and Cordovia Davis Richardson. Bill and his sister Barbara grew up in Greensboro, North Carolina. Bill graduated from Grimsely High School and Wake Forest University. Bill received a degree in political science, and a love of college basketball, from Wake Forest University. While at Wake Forest, Bill was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

Bill, a Vietnam War Veteran, served twenty-three years in the U.S. Army Infantry. He retired at the rank of Colonel. During his service, Bill received many awards and commendations including the Silver Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal for Valor with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, and the South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry.

When Bill entered the Army Reserves, he undertook a career in financial services and pension plan design. At the time of his death, he was an Independent Representative at Capital Investment Companies and President of R & D Benefit Designs. Bill enjoyed helping his clients, in particular small businesses. Bill worked with many of his clients for over 30 years and considered many of them friends.

Bill was committed to community service. Bill was an active Civitan. He was a member of the South Raleigh, Cape Lookout and Crystal Coast Civitan Clubs. He served those clubs in a variety of roles including as President. Bill served as Governor of Civitan's North Carolina District East from 2012 to 2013.

Bill's work as Special Olympics Chair for Civitan connected him with Special Olympics of North Carolina. He volunteered countless hours with Special Olympics of North Carolina and, in particular, with the Summer Games serving as the Games' Director in 2015. He was the current treasurer of the Board of Directors and a former Board Chair.

Bill received several recognitions for his outstanding service including a Civitan International Fellow and a Civitan District Honor Key.

Bill's greatest joy was time spent with his wife and family. Bill loved to travel and often took trips to the Civitan International Convention. He delighted in time spent with his children and grandchildren. Bill often could be found building forts out of sofa cushions or on the sidelines of his granddaughter's basketball games.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents; his sisters in law Julie Hyman Stakes and Taylor Hyman; and his brother in law Sonny Hyman. Bill is survived by his devoted wife of 24 years, Fran Hyman Richardson; his three daughters: Amy Richardson (Matt), Emily Mills (Joey), and Catherine Richardson; his sister Barbara Hammers (Robert); sisters in law Vickie Parker (Ron), Cecilia Kolkin (Jon), and Christina Logan (Steve); brothers in law Mark Hyman (Cheryl) and Gary Stokes; and grandchildren, Emma, Nash, Landin and Chase. Also surviving are his many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 am Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 125 Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC. The family will receive friends following the service at the church in Shepherds Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Special Olympics of North Carolina, 2200 Gateway Centre Blvd , Suite 201,Morrisville, NC 27560, or Civitan International Bill Richardson Memorial, PO Box 130744

Birmingham, Alabama 35213-0744.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh. Condolences may be made through brownwynne.com.