Robert Harry Richards

Robert Harry Richards, of 717 Highland Avenue in Princeton, W.Va., died on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, at Princeton Community Hospital. Born in Princeton, he was the son of the late Harry B. and Grace Campbell Richards. He was a graduate of Princeton High School and earned his bachelor of science degree from Concord University in Athens. He completed his masters degree at Columbia University in New York and did his graduate work at Juilliard School of Music in New York. He was retired from the Music Department of Radford University in Radford, Va., after 27 years of service. Robert taught school in Mercer, Fayette and Giles County before his employment at Radford University. He was a professional singer, traveling around the world with The Robert Shaw Chorale and sang at numerous churches in West Virginia and Virginia. He also sang in several area choral groups during the holiday season. He was a United States Army veteran serving in the Korean War and had been a resident of Princeton since 1993 moving here from Radford following retirement. In addition to his parents; two sisters, Anna Louise Ward and husband, Bob, and Josephine White and husband, B.G., preceded him in death. Survivors include two sisters, Jean F. Richards, and Nelrose R. Price and husband, Earl, all of Princeton; three nephews, Charles Keatley and wife, Winnie, Robert Lee Ward and wife, Jeanne, and Edward Ward and wife, Betty; and six greatnieces and nephews, Cynthia Davidson and husband, David, Andy Keatley and daughters, Emily and Brooke, Stephanie Hester and husband, Brent, Julia Usher and husband, Chip, Robert Andrew Ward and wife, Christi, and Christie Ward. Graveside services will be conducted 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2009, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Chapel of the Wildwood with Dr. David Dockery officiating. Burial will follow. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Friends may call at Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton from noon until the service hour on Saturday. Those attending the graveside service are asked to meet at the funeral home by 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Princeton Public Library, 205 Center St., Princeton, W.Va. 24740. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seaverfuneralservice.com. Seaver Funeral Home in Princeton, W.Va., is serving the Richards family.