Donald William Richards

Many things can be said about Mr. Donald William Richards, Jr. He was known to his friends a “Don”, to family as “Donny”, and to acquaintances as “Sir”.

Don was a friendly, energetic, empathetic, and “get to the point” kind of guy. His compassion would always shine through, revealing his charm and warmth.

He was warmhearted, gentle, and organized in all the things he sought to accomplish. Don was capable of seeing things clearly, leading others and bringing out the best of those lives he touched. He generally had a focus on peace and harmony.

Don was born on December 29, 1955 in Covina, CA. His parents were Barbara Sanderson and Donald W. Richards. When Don was young, his friends and family used these words to describe him… he was happy, fun, and energetic. Even as a child, Don demonstrated strong qualities of self-confidence and disposition that was enjoyable to those around him.

Don grew up with two siblings, a younger sister Tammy, and a baby brother, Brad. Don was constantly involved in all types of activities with his family. He even coached his baby brother’s Little League team. He learned responsibility, integrity, and respect in his teen years, while he worked at his Grandfather’s grocery store. These qualities have served him well in his adult life too. Don was a person who genuinely understood and cared for others, making powerful connections with those he knew.

On June 11, 1988, Don married Lori Denise Mason at Enchanted Oaks in Escondido, CA. Compassionate and devoted were qualities marked by Don’s hard work to make his new family happy. He was always generous with his time and that meant that Lori came first in Don’s book. He was always caring and made certain that he considered Lori’s feelings. By trusting his emotions, Don did his best to make sure that both the marriage and home life ran smoothly.

Don’s quality of being a caring and tolerant person, who was very accepting of others, transferred to being a good father to his children. Don shared these values with his two sons, their twins, Jonathon and Jayson. Don related well to children of all ages and was able to connect with them on their level. The children always loved him, and he was completely devoted to them.

Don experienced success in his work life over and over again. His primary occupation was a truck driver. He was employed for 30 years by Robertson’s Ready Mix. Don always made the effort to understand what was needed at work and was known by his colleagues as a team player. Don took pride in managing his responsibilities and seemed to always know what was necessary to successfully complete a project. Don knew his work and knew it well. He was often called upon to train prospective employees. Being a mentor enabled him to help them develop their own potential.

Don derived much satisfaction from sports. Because he was so instinctive and could always grasp the big picture, he delighted in the strategy and inner workings of competition. In high school Don played football and competed in wrestling. During his college years he continued his interest in football. Don was also a huge sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite teams, including any baseball team that his sons were playing on.

Throughout his life, Don was actively involved in the community. He was a Little League Coach and a Boy Scout Leader. He insisted on having a car with several seats so he could transport his boys and their friends from one place to another…whether it was to the beach, paintball, baseball, or a pizza party. Don lead the efforts in raising money for the Attack baseball Team to go to a World Series in Tennessee. He went to merchants in the community and raised a considerable amount of money. When called upon, Don was a natural leader who created good relationships within a group, often putting his own needs aside.

Don’s whole life points to assisting other people to learn, grow, and succeed. There was no one else like him. He will be sorely missed here on Earth. Everyone who was touched by Don, will surely remember the life of Donald William Richards.