Howard Edgar Richardson, Jr.

Howard Edgar Richardson Jr., 90, of College Station, Texas died peacefully in his sleep on March 2, 2023.

Ed, also known by “Chick”, was born on October 13, 1932 to Howard E and Lois E (Jones) Richardson in Beaumont, Texas. After graduating from South Park High School in 1949, he went on to study Industrial Education at A&M College of Texas as a member of the Class of 1953. During his junior year, Ed went on a blind date with Arlene Jane Wiemers, attending the 1951 Texas A&M/SMU football game. Ed stated later, “that was the luckiest day of my life and it changed my life forever.” Ed & Arlene were married in the Chapel of Travis Park Methodist Church in San Antonio on July 11, 1953.

After graduating in 1953, Ed was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force and called to active duty on April 15, 1954 at Lackland AFB in Texas. He served on active and reserve duty until 1967. While stationed at Scott AFB, Gary Howard Richardson was born in July 1954 in Bellville, IL. Then in January 1957 while stationed abroad, Denise Arlene Richardson was born in Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany.                                       

After the Air Force, Ed spent 27 years in the aerospace industry, first with ITT Kellogg (Atlas Program), and then with General Electric Space Division, primarily at the Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake City (Apollo, Skylab, and Shuttle Programs); he retired in 1987 and moved to their ranch in Yancey, TX. In 2000, they left the ranch to spend the next five years traveling full time in their motorhome across the US making many friends along the way. In 2005, they sold the motor home and moved to College Station.

Ed always said he was “a Jack of all trades and master of none,” but he was pretty good at all he attempted. He enjoyed working on cars, welding, building things (lake cabin, TV’s, hunting stands), ranching, traveling, deer hunting, fishing, scouting, church activities, square dancing, genealogy, and his Class of ‘53 activities.

Ed was predeceased by his parents and his younger brother, Arthur R. “Reggie” Richardson. He  is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Arlene; son, Gary (Monica) Richardson; daughter Denise (Dave) Bailey; grandchildren, Jessica (Pete) Koeneman, Justin (Jill) Richardson, Julia Richardson, Michelle (Landon) Cooksey; great-grandchildren, Kirby, Cole and Maggie Richardson, Noah, Jake, Caleb, and Grace Koeneman, and Jack and Sam Cooksey; and sister-in-law, Emily “Nan” Richardson.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to New Fountain Methodist Church, or New Fountain Cemetery Perpetual Care,  both at 2980 FM 2676, Hondo, Texas 78861.