Belford A. Richards

ANDOVER - Belford Arlington Richards, 86, died Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Franklin Regional Hospital.

He was born in South Portland, Maine, on April 25, 1926, the son of Harold Scott Richards and Aria Gould Richards.

He graduated from St. Paul's School in Concord, in 1945.

Joining the U.S. Marine Corps at 18 years old, Belford was one of the youngest Marines to serve during the end of World War II over the South Pacific as an aircraft radar/radio operator and tail gunner.

He attended the University of MI and transferred to Rollins College, Fla., where he graduated in 1953 with a BA.

While at Rollins College he wrote comic strip continuity for Les Turner, artist of the Washtub Comic Strip cartoon. Mr. Richards traveled to England in the 1950s to do research on a book he was writing called "Forty on the Emu." He returned to Portland, Maine, in 1963 and was employed in advertising and became a Freemason. In 1974, he moved to Bradford, and had resided in Andover for the past 15 years. Mr. Richards was an avid reader, collector of original comic strip art, and loved to travel, especially to the island of Gozo, Malta. He leaves behind Gail Gurnsey Richards, his wife of 25 years; two sons, Tyler Ford Richards and the Rev. Michael H.

Richards; a daughter, Lizabeth McAllaster Tompkins and numerous friends in both Europe and the U.S.

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SERVICES: Friends may call at the Chadwick Funeral Home, 235 Main Street, New London, on Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

There will be a service at the funeral home at 5:30 p.m.

Please join the family at the schoolhouse on 206 Old College Road, Andover to celebrate his life.

Private burial will be at the Pine Grove Cemetery, Manchester. Memorial contributions may be made to the Andover EMS, P.O. Box 61, Andover, 03216.