Karl R. Richards

Obituary of Karl R. Richards December 21, 2016 Karl R. Richards, 83, a lifetime resident of Fulton, NY, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family members Wednesday, December 21, at Seneca Hill Manor, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was the son of the late George H. Richards and Iva (Dolbear) Richards of Fulton. Karl was an exceptional student and graduated two years early from Fulton high school in 1949. He served in the U.S. Seventh Army in Germany during the Korean War in 1953 and 1954. He met his future wife Jacqueline Chronister in Hershey Park, PA and married in 1956. Karl retired from General Electric in 1987 with 35 years of service in various capacities. He was a hardworking and faithful husband and father. He has four children, fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He traveled to Russia, Austria and Ohio to visit his children and grandkids. Karl enjoyed gardening, loved nature, being in the outdoors, and conveyed his sense of wonder to his family with early morning canoe outings, walks in the woods and stargazing with his telescope. He enjoyed photography and studied art and was commissioned to paint a landscape of the First Methodist Church of Fulton in 1958. Those who knew Karl remember him as an avid reader and as one who mastered complex skills and tasks, completely rebuilding everything from an antique player piano to the family’s 1800’s farmhouse (the piano continues to entertain new generations, and the farmhouse and surrounding property have both served as a magnet for countless family reunions and memorable times as we all grew, laughed, cried and just loved each other). A man who loved his family and who faced his Alzheimer’s with grace and courage – he will be sorely missed. His wife and children are witnesses of how Karl trusted God in the midst of his illness and of the loving, tender and playful spirit that he has shown despite the progression of the disease. Karl was predeceased by his parents; brothers, Kyle and Kenneth and sisters, Thelma Tetro, Nila Dietrich, Austa Koes and Norma MacDonald. In addition to his loving wife, Jacqueline of 61 years, he is survived by his sons, Brian (Colleen) Richards of Ithaca, NY, Christopher (Lisa) Richards of Stow, OH and Thomas (JoAnn) Richards of Fulton, NY; a daughter, Patricia (Alan) Eggleton of Fulton and currently residing in St. Petersburg, Russia; 14 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren and a brother, Keller of Fulton. A calling hour will be held on Saturday, January 7 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Fulton Alliance Church, 1044 State Route 48 Fulton, where a memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Mt. Adnah Cemetery, E. Broadway, Fulton.