Glenn “Ted” Richards

Age 87, passed away April 19, 2017.  Ted started working when he was 12 years old doing various jobs.  He joined the National Guard during high school, and was an accomplished athlete as well.  He was captain of the wrestling team, played football, ran track, and sang in the Glee Club.  Ted graduated from Eastern High School in 1948.  He unloaded railroad box cars at the lumberyard after graduation, then worked doing water well drilling.  He was badly burned on the job on August 4, 1949 by a blow torch and spent months in the hospital recovering.  Ted worked for Fisher Body in the cushion room after that until 1951 when he enlisted in the Air Force under the buddy program with Bill Suska and Al Chapman, his lifelong friends.  They were stationed in Arizona, and he worked as a supply sergeant.  He was on active duty during the Korean War.  After the service in 1952, he went back to Fisher Body.  In 1953 he started at the Lansing Fire Department working as a fire fighter, reaching the rank of Engineer.  In 1967, he purchased the B&G Bar and owned it for about 3 years, also working part time as a painter.  In 1972, he started at the Lansing Airport (Capital Region Airport Authority) until he retired in 1994.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 39 years, Sonia (Lucyshyn) Richards; Brothers William, James, and Thomas; Sisters Lucille Sheldon, Catherine Sanches, and Merry Joyce Richards.  Surviving are:  Children; Steve (Kelly) Richards, Harry (Karen) Richards, and Catherine (Kevin) Yates and Grandchildren; Nathan, Jacqueline, Nicholas, Kacey, Dylan, Kylie, and Carissa.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, with interment with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.  His family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, April 21.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lansing Firefighter Local #421 for the Honor Guard, or the American Diabetes Association in memory of Glenn Richards.