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Ken Richards Obituary
Ken Richards, 62, of Dundee, died Saturday, September 27, 2008, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Roscommon County, MI. He was born in Akron on September 20, 1946, to the late Kenneth and Margaret (McCoy) Richards and married Kathi Keneaster on February 24, 1979. She survives. He retired in June of this year as a school teacher in the Sandy Valley Local Schools. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was a member of the GRA. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a sister, Winifred (Robert) Holm of Wadsworth, and his beloved dogs, Mick and Jack. He was preceded in death by a brother, Jim, and a sister, Donna Jean. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, October 5th, at 4 p.m. at the Spidell Funeral Home in Mount Eaton with Pastor Orion Aubihl officiating. There will be no calling hours. Online guest registration and condolences may be sent through the funeral home website at
www.spidellfuneralhome.com.
(Spidell-Mount Eaton,
330-359-5252)
www.spidellfuneralhome.com
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Memories and Condolences
for Ken Richards
Michael Stephens
October 25, 2008
I had Mr. Richards for four years at Sandy and he was an amazing person, an inspiration to say the least. I have never stopped wondering if he ever got that old BSA motorcycle running. I admired this man for who and what he was. He awarded me outstanding engineering student of the year 1993 and I was possibly an unlikely candidate but he found it so. My best goes out to his closest.
Natalie Woodin
October 7, 2008
Kathi,
We would like to send our deepest sympathy to you. Ken could not have been a better person. He has done so much for so many people. He actually gave me my first job of typing his tests and notes for his classes while I was in my junior and senior year. When my husband had him for class all he and his friends had to do was gather some geese from the mill and bring them in for your pond. We are truly blessed that we had him in our lives and memories will always be there of what a great teacher and friend he really was. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
God Bless,
Albert and Natalie (Marino) Woodin
Richard Williams
October 5, 2008
My sincere apologies to your family. I feel very lucky to have had the pleasure of being one of his students, and he was by far my favorite teacher. He will always be remembered forever
Robert Williams
October 4, 2008
My deepest sympathy goes to Mr. Richards family. He was not only a excellent teacher,but he was a great person as well. The time I spent in his class was the most enjoyable of my high school career. I am truly saddened to hear of his passing.
nathan materna
October 4, 2008
one of my favorite teachers. i will miss you chewy.
Matt Barnes
October 4, 2008
I wish I had something deep and profound to say, something that could say just what kind of person he was. He was a teacher that took the time to be a friend. He listened to his students and based what he taught on our plans for the future. He pushed us hard and challenged us to get though it. When we fell behind, he still made us smile. Most importantly, he always asked if I got that big buck after deer season. He was a character, and I'll never forget him.
amber dettweiler-croston
October 4, 2008
i graduated in 2003 but never had Mr.Richards as a teacher at Sandy Valley although i would often say hi as i passed him in the halls.he always had a smile on his face and it was a pleasure just for that.i often heard stories from friends of how inspiring he was and if you passed by his room at the right time,you could hear for yourself.my thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.he will truly be missed!
Teresa and Jeff Bair
October 4, 2008
So sorry to hear about Ken. He will be greatly missed by a lot of the G.R.A. members.We all had a lot of good times hunting at the farm with ken. I remember one day last year during pheasant season Ken, myself, my husband Jeff and a couple of other members were hunting and one of the guys shot a bird but his dog could not find it. Ken had his old dog with him and yelled out to us that his dog had found the bird.The last time that I talked to Ken was at the work party and he was saying how exited he was for pheasant season to come in so that he could hunt his young dog again.We will all miss him terribly.If there is anything we can do for you please let us know.
Collene Duhamel
October 4, 2008
Kathi,
My sincere sympathy. I think of you often and will more so now.
Take care kid, this is no way to celebrate your birthday.
Love ya,
Collene
Kathy Swan
October 3, 2008
Kathi,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss, my heart goes out to you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers!
AMANDA SHOEMAKER
October 3, 2008
I am very sorry for your lost and my thoughts and prayers go to his entire family Mr. Richards was a great man and a great teacher. I was a student of his at Sandy Valley High school. He gave me the education that I needed to have a good career and work a job I enjoy. He will be missed!
Dan & Robyn Baum
October 3, 2008
Our deepest sympathies and prayers. My son Daniel Baum said, "Mom, did you hear my favorite teacher passed away?" He was very upset. He is a 2006 graduate and was not very found of school work. For Mr. Richards to have made an impression on him, was truly a gift. Our thoughts and prayer are with you all.
Laurie Collingwood (Wiles)
October 2, 2008
Kathy,
I'm so sorry to hear about Ken. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mark Croston
October 2, 2008
My thoughts and prayers go to his entire family. I had Mr. Richards for 4 years while i was in Sandy Valley, and he was a great inspiration to me. Always kind and willing to help, and made leanring fun. He will truely be missed. May the lord rest his soul.
Jill Haglock
October 2, 2008
So sorry for the loss of Ken. Even knowing Ken for the relatively short time we were coworkers at Sandy Valley (1991-1997), he was very obviously a wonderful man. His kindness to both students and staff was always evident. Conversations with Ken were invariably interesting. He has made all he encountered better for knowing him.
Prayers are being said on your behalf.
Jill Haglock
ESTHER & CEL FERNANDEZ
October 2, 2008
KATHY ESTHER AND I WHERE SHOCKED AND SADDEN WHEN GARY TOLD US ABOUT KEN .OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND HIS FAMIILY. WE ARE RICHER FOR HAVING KNOWN HIM. LOVE AND PRAYERS ESTHER & CEL
Brianna Patterson
October 1, 2008
My thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Richards' family. I was deeply saddened to learn of his death. It was my father that convinced me to take my first drawing class but it was Mr. Richards' passion for the subject and his students that kept me in his classes. Even after graduation he remained a role model in my life. He convinced me to go back to college and pursue a career that I love in drafting. He was an excellent teacher and a friend and I can only hope that we all touched his life as deeply as he touched ours.
Nicki Gordon-Coy
October 1, 2008
I first met Ken in Mechanical Drawing 1, he was very passionate about his trade. He was eager to teach anyone who had a small interest in drafting, and did not discourage any student. It was through him that I first learned to ski, when he ran the ski club. He was very, very patient. I was not the "natural" skier that some are, but he did not give up on me. Because of him I am now an avid skier and Jim and I even went skiing on our honey moon (Ken was very excited to see the pictures of the mountain when we returned) When I returned to Sandy as a teacher, he was one of the first of my "teachers" to come and welcome me back. He would fill me in on the ins and outs of Sandy Valley and became my unofficial mentor. He supported the start up of the science club, and never missed a field trip, even though most were on weekends. He often would offer up anecdotal stories of farming and of being a woodsman. He was a true nature lover. He was at my wedding, and even danced with a broken arm! (after a snow mobile accident). Ken encouraged me to start up our Ski Club again, and helped me organize every aspect of the club. He was always very giving. His memory was impeccable. He could remember when you graduated, what college you went to, who you hung out with and what everyone was doing now. He loved his career and his students. We will all miss him, deeply.
Bob Leach
October 1, 2008
I was shocked and saddened to read of Ken's death. I taught with Ken at Sandy Valley High School. He had the love and respect of not only his students, but also the whole staff. My prayers are with his family that they may find comfort and strength in this most trying time.
Daniel Burnett
October 1, 2008
He was a great teacher, the best I had in high school. I learned a lot from him, and he always took the time to be a friend and take an interest in the lives of his students. He will be missed.
Dave Schoeppner
October 1, 2008
My prayers go out to Mr. Richard's family. He was more than just a great teacher. He was a great person and will be deeply missed.
Cody Williams
September 30, 2008
Mr. Richards was not only an excellent teacher, and by far my favorite, but he was a caring friend as well. No matter how hard he pushed us in class, I know he only wanted the best for each of us. My condolences go out to his family and friends, and I will keep them in my prayers. He was a long-time friend and mentor, and will surely be missed.
- Cody Williams
MATT MONROE
September 30, 2008
My thoughts and prayers are with the family and all who are saddened over the loss of Mr. Richards. Knowing Mr. Richards made me a better person. His early guidance gave me a start to the career I love and have now. He demanded the best out of me all four years of high school. I appreciated him then but I respected him so much after I got a little older. He changed the lives of so many students and paths of their future careers. I valued his opinion so much and was glad I could keep the relationship I had with him long after graduation. He will be missed by so many.
Jacquelyn Yoast (Woodlock)
September 30, 2008
Mr. Richards was such a great and caring teacher. I knew him as my ski club advisor, where he always inspired us to have fun at the sport. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Michael Brediger
September 30, 2008
I lost a good hunting and fishing buddy and we all lost a very good man.
Kevin Turner
September 30, 2008
Mr.Richards was by far the best teacher i have had in high school yet. He would always help you on your drawings if you had questions and would gladly write you a pass to come draw during studyhall. He would always talk to all of us about his hunting and fishing adventures and ask about ours. He will surely be missed by all of his drafting students and many more.
Brandon Kirkman
September 30, 2008
By far one of the greatest teachers I've ever had; but was so much more then a teacher. One of the few that actually took the time to be a friend as well. It's because of him I'm sitting here at UA for engineering.
Ryan Moyer
September 30, 2008
Mr. Richards was an awesome teacher, he was respected in the entire area for his expertice in Mechanical Engineering and Architecture. I had him for 3 years in high school, his classes were tough and he demanded alot, but everybody that had him, I think, learned alot. He was good guy, in the past 7 years as I coached wrestling for SV, whenever he'd see me he'd talk about wrestling and ask me about my family and whatnot. Hearing this news breaks my heart. Mr. Richards will be missed. His family has my deepest sympathy.
Joe Fedeli
September 30, 2008
Mr. Richards pushed me even when i wasn't doing the greatest in his classes, and will remain my favorite teacher. I looked at my box of drawings and read his note he left in there, "Other than 2 drawings missing, your notebook and cover are good. It was interesting to see. Do you realize only 12 out of 44 drawings were turned in on time?" But i still passed the class becasue of him pushing me towards perfection.
Kathy Patterson
September 30, 2008
My sympathy to Ken's wife and family. I taught with Ken for several years at SV. I called him the country boy, and he called me the city girl. We did a lot of teasing and a lot of laughing together. One time the country boy gave me a jar of canned potatoes because of a joke we shared. He was a friend to many and an excellent teacher.
Eva Ames-Poole
September 30, 2008
To the Richards and Keneaster families, You have my deepest heartfelt sympathy toward your loss.
What wonderful expressions of sympathy have already been written.
May God's peace that passeth all
understanding surround your families.
Jim Brediger
September 30, 2008
Kathi,
Words will never completely express the sorrow we feel.
We all have lost a genuinely good, loving, kind and generous man.
I have not wept like this since the loss of my beloved grandfather years ago. This is, to me, exactly like losing a family member.
Recently, when Ken and Carl drove all the way to North Carolina just to help me move my parents; My Mom and Dad commented that they thought that I was extremely fortunate to have friends in my life like these two. I am.
Doc and Joyce asked me to extend their heartfelt condolences.
We will forever cherish the time we were blessed to share with Ken. The stories from our times together at Carl’s Cabin camping, hunting, fishing and just enjoying life will be recounted around our campfires for the rest of our lives. There will be an empty seat around the fire now, yet I know that when the boys gather together again, Ken will be there with us.
Kathi… We love you, we are so terribly sorry for your loss. We will be home to see you soon.
Jim, Charlotte, Mike and Jaime Brediger
Cartersville, Georgia
Robert “Doc” and Joyce Brediger
Lumberton, North Carolina
Sheila & Tom Brothers
September 30, 2008
Kathi,
Our hearts ache for you, with our deepest sympathy of your loss. What a tragedy. Ken worked so long and hard to finally set his life up to retire and enjoy all the great things he loved. He will be deeply missed by all. Please let us help you any way we can. You are one of my best friends forever and I will always be here for you no matter what you need! Love and Prayers always.
Barb Woodlock-Clair
September 30, 2008
Mrs Richards, Your husband was a great teacher in the Sandy Valley area. Our prayers are with you in this time of loss.
Kenneth Grigsby
September 30, 2008
We knew Ken through his many years of teaching at Sandy Valley. He always had a nice word for everyone and a smile on his face. May God's grace keep you as you go through the process of grieving someone you loved so deeply. We will remember you in our prayers... Ken & Sue Grigsby
Robin Lotz
September 30, 2008
Our deepest sympathies to your family at Ken's passing. We taught together at SV for many, many years and he will be deeply missed.
Denise & Alexis Crouse (Oswald)
September 30, 2008
Deepest Sympathy from a former S.V. student. Mr. Richards was a super teacher and person and will be greatly missed.
Ike Winters
September 30, 2008
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. He was a terriffic educator and an even better person. He will be missed.
Don & Freida Schott
September 30, 2008
Dear Kathi - words cannot express the deep sadness we feel for your (& our) great loss. I just want to hold you and cry with you. In the short while we have known you & Ken through TCPOWC & TRBVWC activities, we have grown to love and appreciate you both. What a tragic loss! Ken will be sorely missed as a friend and as the treasurer of Tuscarawas River Buried Valley Watershed Council. Kathi, please know that we are praying for God to bring you comfort and solace.
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