Bernard E. Richards' Obituary
Bernard E. Richards, born March 12, 1933, the son of Leonard C. Richards and Ruth M. Richards, died Wednesday, April 15, 2015 in Mease Dunedin Hospital after a brief illness. He was married August 24, 1969 to the former Shirley Thomas who survives. Born and raised in Williamsport, he graduated from Williamsport High School in 1953. He served in the U.S. Army Third Division in Korea for two years during the conflict.
After several brief jobs as bartender, block operator for Pennsylvania Railroad, and a few others, he went to work for the Department of Labor and Industry, bureau of Employment Security, in 1962.
He rose from claims taker to employment interviewer to rural services representative to employer relations representative to manager. He served as manager of their Wellsboro office from July 1971 to January 1975, when he was transferred to Milton. He retired in December of 1992.
After vacationing in Florida for a dozen years Bernie and Shirley bought a small home in Dunedin and became snowbirds, traveling south in mid-October and returning to their northern home at Brookfield Manor Dewart in mid-April. He liked to say "we lived in the best of both worlds." Together they enjoyed traveling and going on cruises. They became close friends with many folks in Dunedin who came to be much like family. About half of their friends are Canadian and Bernie liked to say he spoke two languages ("Canadian, eh?")
Bernie served in many local and civic organizations, including the Milton Lions Club, the SunCom Industries board of directors, the Laurelton State School foster grandparents association, the Milton Chamber of Commerce, and was the first president of the Broad Acres Health and Rehabilitation Center Board of Directors.
He was a member of the Muncy Valley Moose and the Dunedin Elks, and was a lifetime member of both the Milton VFW Post 1665 and the American Legion Post 71.
Bernie is survived by, in addition to his wife, son Brian D., (Jill Ciciarelli) Pittsburgh; step-daughters Sharon Ertel, Williamsport; Tammy French, Montoursville; Lori Buckalew Brown (Jon), Millville, five step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Also surviving are sisters Lois Yoder, Muncy; Joan Staccone (Phillip), Pine Creek; Linda Bomboy (Ray) , Cogan Station, and brother Larry, Williamsport.
Following his wishes he will be cremated and will wait for Shirley to join him, but not too soon. This loving, generous man took her into his heart and his life, and they shared 46 beautiful, exciting years together. Hopefully they will share eternity together enjoying the many blessings God has in store for them.
There will be no services at this time; instead there will be a celebration of his life at a place and time to be announced.
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