Carroll R. Richards

1943 - 2025

Carroll R. Richards

March 8, 1944 - October 23, 2025

Carroll R. Richards, 82, of Lincoln, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025, at Decatur Memorial Hospital, with his family by his side.

Visitation will be from 10 am to 12 pm on Saturday, November 8, 2025, at Holland Barry and Bennett Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 12 pm, also at the funeral home. Cremation Rites will then be accorded. There will be no burial at this time.

Carroll was born March 8, 1943, in Mattoon, Ill., the son of Paul and Geneva (Morgan) Richards. He married Marilyn Miller in 1970. She preceded him in death. He married Kim McGlocklin in 2014. She survives.

Carroll graduated from Mattoon High School in 1961. He went on to graduate from Eastern Illinois University in 1966, attended Memphis Theological Seminary (where he later served on the Board of Directors), and graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary with a doctorate in Ministry in 1970. He ministered in Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Florida, and Tennessee, before settling in Lincoln, Illinois in 1994. Upon retiring from church ministry in 2006, he worked for Memorial Health Systems as a Hospital Chaplain in Springfield and Lincoln until retiring in 2020.

Always active in human rights and a lifetime ambassador of peace, Carroll marched with MLK Jr. in the Memphis Sanitation Strike in 1968, worked with a Hispanic Mission on the NW side of Chicago, taught pastoral counseling classes through a program of alternate studies, and hosted a campaign stop for Barack Obama in his home in 2004. Carroll was in attendance at President Obama's Inauguration in 2009.

His mother always told him to be useful, so after retirement, he volunteered at Postville Courthouse, Make-A-Wish Foundation, as an usher for the Performing Arts Center in Springfield, and Meals on Wheels. In 2018 Carroll was nominated for the Lincoln Courier's Citizen of the Month for his work with Meals on Wheels. Shortly after that nomination appeared in the paper, he forgot his next Meals on Wheels delivery.

Carroll loved sports and enjoyed playing basketball and riding his bicycle. He was an avid St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, and St. Louis Cardinals fan.

Survivors include his loving wife Kim Richards; his sons Michael Richards (Emma Steimel) and Jeffrey Richards; bonus children Amy Callihan (Clay), and Brian Stout; grandchildren Linus and Felix Richards; bonus grandchildren Julia, Kat, Elliott, and Lucy Callihan; sister Judy Richards; and several extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Marilyn, daughter in law Wendy Urteaga, and numerous cousins.

Memorial donations may be made to: Meals on Wheels program, 1800 5th St., Lincoln, and Lincoln Area Music Society, P.O. Box 53, Lincoln.