A.J. Richardson, of Lead Hill, died on Monday, April 25 (2011) at his home. He was 89 years old.
A visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 28, at Holt Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 29, at the Lead Hill Church of Christ. Joe Blair and Ervin Curtis will officiate. Burial will be in the Milum Cemetery at Lead Hill. Pallbearers will be Jack Richardson, Greg Gimenez, Chad Whited, Tad Andreson, Mike Andreson, Terry Young and Richard Riggins.
The son of Alex Dudley and Arkie O. (McLean) Richardson was born on Feb. 13, 1922, at a sugar orchard near Pyatt.
During World War II, A.J. was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. He was with the 101st Airborne Division. He saw action in France at the Battle of the Bulge, and other battles in Germany. He came back to the U.S. and was sent to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis, Mo. From there they were to be sent to Japan, however, the war ended and that was no longer necessary. A.J. was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.
A.J. married Ruth Ann Forsee and they lived in Sugar Orchard. In 1952, they moved to St. Louis, where he worked for Lincoln-Mercury until he retired in 1982. During layoffs and vacations, he loved to deer, turkey, and coon hunt on his farm near Lead Hill. He was also a fishing guide in his time off. The fish in the Bull Shoals Lake came to fear the day he parked his bass boat in their part of the lake.
In 30 years, few people made as many trips from Lead Hill to St. Louis, as he did. A.J. and Ruth enjoyed a few trips to Las Vegas, California, Oregon and Washington. They loved the Rockies and Sierras and everything in between.
A.J. was a member of the Bellefonte Masonic Lodge No. 314.
He and Ruth had no children, but they loved kids. They were long time members of the Lead Hill Church of Christ. A.J. lost Ruth in 2008.
Survivors include several nieces, nephews, friends of the church, and members of the community he called home. He just plain liked people. He was the last surviving child of a family of eight children. He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Milum Cemetery Fund c/o Marilyn Richardson P.O. Box 302 Lead Hill, AR 72644 or to a charity of your choice.
