Joseph George Richard, Jr., a retired Professional Engineer, passed away at 7:00 pm on March 4, 2022, at the Baton Rouge General Hospital Butterfly Wing. He was born on September 22, 1928, in Houma, Louisiana and resided in Baton Rouge since 1935. Joe was a 1945 graduate of Baton Rouge High School and a 1953 graduate of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute (now Louisiana Tech University). He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Deacon and Treasurer; a World War II Veteran of the US Army Occupation in Japan; and an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster. He was a member of St. James Masonic Lodge.
Mr. Richard was a consultant in civil, municipal, and public works engineering, and was a recognized expert in plastic pipe and piping systems. He belonged to professional and technical societies for engineering, water, and wastewater, and was co-author of several texts, manuals, standards and technical papers of American Water Works Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society for Testing and Materials, Water Environment Federation, and Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association. Joe served as Chairman of the PVC Pressure Pipe and Fittings Committee of AWWA, Chairman of the Technical Committee of Uni-Bell, and President of the Baton Rouge Branch of ASCE. He was affiliated for some years with Owen & White, Inc. of this city, served as Chief Engineer and Acting Director of Public Works for the City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge from 1986 to 1991, and enjoyed several years of private expert witness work after retirement.
Joe’s hobbies were auto mechanics, fishing, and computers. He especially enjoyed teaching/sharing the love of fishing in Louisiana’s many beautiful waterways with his only grandson! He taught computer classes at the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging and the Cajun Clickers Computer Club. Joe and his wife traveled to all 50 states and many countries, including the Holy Land, Egypt, and Russia.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph George Richard and Jessye Lea “Jackie” Bethune Richard, a brother, Jackson Bethune Richard, Capt. USN Ret., and
his sister, Carolyn Richard McPherson. His survivors are his wife Bettye Pearson Richard; son William Joseph (Bill) and wife Amy of Baton Rouge; daughter Elizabeth Lea (Beth) of Gonzales; grandson Benjamin Joseph (Ben) and wife Kristen with their sons Pearson Joseph, Connor Davis and Drew Phillips of Greenwell Springs; brother Thomas Alfred Richard, D.V.M., of Houma.
The family wishes to thank their neighbor and friend Willie Mae Selvage and caregivers for their care and concern during this difficult time.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 763 North Boulevard, Baton Rouge at 12:00 on Monday, March 14th, preceded by visitation in the church parlor from 11:00 until the service. Private entombment will be at Greenoaks Memorial Park, Baton Rouge. The family requests no flowers. Donations can be made to the First Presbyterian Church Foundation, the P.E.O. Foundation, or a charity of choice.
“Bold I approach the Eternal Throne - And claim the crown thru Christ my own.”
