Obituary of John G. Richards

John G. Richards, a lifelong resident of Rockaway, New Jersey, died peacefully on Friday, August 6, 2010. He was 99 years old. He was the son of John A. Richards and Ellen Smith Richards whose families both originated from Cornwall, England. Until very recently John lived in the house in which he was born in 1911. John attended Rockaway Borough public schools. He was a member of the Rockaway Tennis Club and a fullback on the 1927 Class B Championship football team. He retired from Picatinny Arsenal after more than 35 years of service. He also worked for Beaver Brook Dairy in his younger years. John had a passion for the outdoors and in his free time enjoyed hunting and fly fishing. John was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 60 years, Helen Hunt Richards. He is survived by two daughters, Jane Vanderhoof of Denville, New Jersey, and Nancy VanEvera of Clifton Park, New York. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Two children, Helen Marie Edwards and Carol Ann Richards, predeceased him, as did his sister, Marie Fichter, and four grandchildren. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, August 10 from 11AM - 1PM p.m. at Norman Dean Home for Services, 16 Righter Avenue, Denville, NJ 07834. A graveside service will follow at 1:30p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Rockaway Cemetery. Please light a candle in his memory at: www.normandean.com. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the American Diabetes Association.