Duane Rodney Richmond

Duane Rodney Richmond, "Rod", 87, of Sun Lakes, AZ, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2020. Rod was born on October 24,1932 in Newcastle, Nebraska. His parents were Roland Benjamin and Mary Izetta Richmond. Rod was the 12th and last child of that marriage.

Having begun his early schooling in a one-room cabin in Nebraska, his parents decided to move the family to Junction City, Kansas where Rod attended school and graduated from Junction City High School in 1950. After working for one year, he enrolled at Kansas State College, (later to become Kansas State University) graduating in 1956.

The Army drafted Rod into military service where he was stationed at Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. After his army service and one year of teaching high school English in Junction City, Rod returned to Kansas State University to begin his Master’s Degree Program and work as an Assistant Graduate Student in the English Department. There he met Carolyn Sue Cross and later that spring they were married.

Needing a full time job, Rod and family moved to Pennsylvania to work for his father-in-law, but discovered that he liked books more than tools and wanted sunshine as well, so the family moved to Mesa, Arizona. In the fall of 1962, Rod was hired to teach at the new Westwood High School. During those years, Rod was able to earn his Master’s Degree from Arizona State University. In 1981, Rod transferred to the new Dobson High School where he continued to teach and coach tennis.

Rod joined the International Teacher’s Exchange Program and spent 1986 in Melbourne, Australia; teaching and learning to drive on the opposite side of the road. Three years later, he retired and came to Sun Lakes in 1996 to enjoy the rest of his life.

Rod is survived by his wife, Sue, daughter, Laura Cates (Jeff), daughter, Diane Miller (Tim), 5 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Later this year Rod’s urn will be placed at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.