Edward Donald Richardson

Don was born in Silsbee, Texas on May 17, 1932, to parents Willie Lee and Alma Elizabeth (Larson) Richardson. Don’s early years were spent running around his father’s barber school in Beaumont, Texas until the family eventually moved to Nederland, Texas where he graduated from Nederland High School in 1949. A passion for music led Don to play the clarinet in the High School band. After Don graduated from high school he enlisted in the United States Air Force and dutifully served his country for two years. Don was one of a few enlisted men who passed the Air Force flight exam and became a pilot, training at Columbus Air Force Base, located in Columbus, Mississippi as part of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC), flying the TA-7 propeller plan as A/C E.D. Richardson under Squadron 2, “Riley’s Raiders”. His flight yearbook quote was, “Hell, I Won’t Get Vertigo”. Because Don was a thin, young man he humorously recalled his flight instructor had him wear his parachute on his front side, making some of his early training landings a bit bouncy when landing on the runway. Don’s good sense of humor and outgoing personality followed him throughout his life. After an honorable discharge from the Air Force, Don went on to pursue his education at Lee College in Baytown, Texas, and finally at the University of Texas in Austin.

Don started his working career as a sales rep at National Biscuit Company working out of the Harlingen, Texas office for over five years before moving into a career in accounting with Lawrence System’s, in Houston, where he worked as an auditor on many types of commercial accounts for over fifteen years. After Lawrence System’s he worked with the Texas Banking Department, auditing funeral homes for the state of Texas, until he retired at sixty-two. After retirement, Don enjoyed weekly socializing over coffee and breakfast at a few favorite venues with many of his retired friends and was always happy to chauffeur his wife, Corrine, to her second career job at the Klein Administrative building for nearly seventeen years.

Married for 67 ½ years, Don met his wife, Corrine Marie (Lanik) Richardson through mutual friends at Sears Roebuck, & Co., and they married on November 25, 1956, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Houston, Texas. Don and Corrine were faithful members of Prince of Peace Catholic Church since 1972 where masses were initially held at Bleyl Middle School prior to the Main Church being completed in 1974.

Don was a dedicated and loving father who spent most of his free time encouraging and attending his children’s many sports hobbies, which included attending his son Tom’s little league baseball games in West University, and weekly junior high and high school basketball games at Klein High School. Don also enjoyed attending his daughter Susan’s volleyball and basketball games and was a big influence on music for his daughter in playing the clarinet, and for his son in playing the alto saxophone.

Don, who was the youngest and the last surviving of seven siblings, was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Lee and Alma Elizabeth Richardson; wife, Corrine Marie (Lanik) Richardson; brothers, William Clyde Richardson, James Roy Richardson and sister-in-law Norma, Odis Henry Richardson and sister-in-law Eva, Andrew Douglas Richardson and sister-in-law Grayce, William “Bill” Lee Richardson, and sister Mary Ottyce “Richardson” Hemkel and brother-in-law Cecil; nephew Judge Douglas Neel Richardson; nephew Clyde Stephen Richardson; niece Leah Sonja Richardson; cousins Grace Elizabeth “Robson” Hargrave, Mary “Robson” Marder, Ester “Robson” Price, Evelyn Robson, Robert Robson; father-in-law and mother-in-law John Henry and Lucille Beatrice Lanik; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Everett John and Mary Lee Richardson, and brother-in-law John Henry Lanik, Jr.

Don is survived by his children Thomas Edward Richardson, Susan Diane Richardson; niece Janne “Richardson” Davio, nephew Jimmy Richardson and many other nieces and nephews; close cousins Joyce Neal “Richardson”Jordan, Robert Hargrave, Norman Hargrave, Eddie Robson, Paul Hargrave; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Johnny and Blanche Pistone, and sister-in-law Judy Lanik.

Visitation will be held at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, US, on July 11, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Funeral Service will be held at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, US, on July 11, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Catered Reception will be held at Forest Park The Woodlands Funeral Home & Cemetery - R.L. Wood Room, 18000 Interstate 45 S, The Woodlands, TX 77384, US, on July 11, 2026, at 12:30 PM

In addition to flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice