Donald L. Richardson

Donald L. Richardson, 71, of Shelbyville, passed from this life and rejoined family and loved ones in heaven on Sunday, the 2nd day of October, 2016, following a brief illness.
Friends will remember him for his endless supply of jokes, his keen mind for business, and his devotion his children and his three spunky granddaughters. We hope that heaven has lots of fishing holes, action movies, and potato chips.
He was born in Cropper to Hazel and Howard Richardson, and grew up with sisters Evelyn (Bleidt) and Sandra (Pearson) in rural Shelby County. Donnie was just 7 years old when his father died, and his mother forged through as a young single mother to provide for her three small children - working first in school cafeterias so she could ride the bus with her kids, then later, working long hours at local factories to support her family. The hardships they endured during that time forged powerful bonds among them, and the foursome remained fiercely close throughout their lives.
Don met his wife, the former Brenda Stucker, in typing class at Shelbyville High School. He annoyed her at first because he was always asking to borrow some paper. This is likely why they didn't start dating until well after he graduated in 1963. Although the kids have never gotten the straight story on who asked for the first date, Don and Brenda married in 1969.
By the time they married, Don had enlisted with the U.S. Air Force. After a 3-day honeymoon at Mammoth Cave, Don boarded a plane to return to the Philippines. The newlyweds spent their first married year at Clark Air Force Base near Manila. Don would spend 30 months in Southeast Asia with the Air Force - more than twice as long as the typical deployment at that time. After they returned to the states, Don completed his business degree at Georgetown College.
Donald started work early, at age 15, at the Shelbyville A&P store. It was the beginning of a long career in the grocery business, including owning his own store, a Pic-Pac, in east Frankfort for nearly 20 years. He embarked on a brand new career in his 50s, starting in the lowest rungs of the Kentucky Revenue Cabinet. Within a decade, he worked his way up to Director of Corporate Tax, a position he relished. Even after his retirement in 2011, he returned to work part time and share his tax expertise with newer employees. He enjoyed the work, and he was good at it. He was in the office just a few days before he fell ill.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Brenda Stucker Richardson; his three children, Kerri Cheng and her husband, Eric; Daniel; and Courtney Sturgill and her husband, Philip; his sister, Sandee Richardson Pearson; and his three granddaughters: Gracie, Emmy, and Mallory.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, the 5th day of October 2016, at the Graefenburg Baptist Church in Graefenburg, with Reverend Philip Meade and Reverend Jay Padgett officiating. Interment will be private. Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 4, 2016, at the church. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Shelby County High School's "Save Our Steinway" fund to rehabilitate the choir's grand piano, or to Graefenburg Baptist Church to replace the Christmas nativity.
Family and friends are kindly requested to write down their best stories about Don, or one of his favorite jokes. He was a vibrant, funny man in life, and we celebrate the best parts of his life now. Arrangements are entrusted to the Hall-Taylor Funeral Home of Shelbyville and online condolences may be expressed at www.halltaylorfuneralhomes.com.