Frank Richardson, 86, longtime Moberly resident, passed away at Macon Health Care in Macon, MO on May 16, 2018. He was born in Carterville, IL on October 8, 1931 to Clyde Richardson and Lucille Anderson Richardson. Frank was united in marriage to Marjorie Elaine Manis in Cambria, IL on September 10, 1950.
Growing up, Frank was active in school and extra-curricular activities—President of his 4-H Club and a 4-year member of Future Farmers of America—as well as playing football, basketball, and baseball. He graduated Carbondale Community High School in Carbondale, Illinois, Class of 1949. Frank LOVED baseball!
At one time he was offered a spot on the St. Louis Cardinals semi-pro farm team. In addition to his being a #1 Cardinals baseball fan almost his entire life, Frank served the Moberly Midget League from 1964-1982 in various offices of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer–which included many years of managing the ballpark concession stand and lining up umpires, groundskeepers, announcers, and volunteer helpers six nights a week in the summer—as well as coaching baseball teams himself. He did it “for the boys”, and he was highly respected by all who interacted with him.
Frank touched the lives of hundreds of boys during his tenure with the Moberly Midget league, providing a role model to many who had no father figure in their lives. As much as he loved baseball, he loved God even more and served the local church in whatever capacity he could. As a teenager, he sang in the church choir and was elected the vice-president of his Christian Endeavor church youth group at the Cambria Christian Church in Cambria, Illinois.
As an adult, he served as an Elder at Union Avenue Christian Church (now Timber Lake Christian Church) in Moberly, Missouri, throughout the 1970’s. Frank attended Coyne Electrical and Radio-Television School in Chicago in 1950 after high school graduation, completing the Radio and Refrigeration Course. He then began his railroad employment as a journeyman electrician for the Illinois Central Railroad in Carbondale, followed by the Frisco Railroad in St. Louis.
From there he was hired by the Wabash Railroad. In 1963, he was promoted to night roundhouse foreman in Moberly, Missouri. Wabash later became the Norfolk & Western, and then merged with the Norfolk & Southern Railroad.
Frank retired from the Norfolk & Southern Railroad in 1985. Frank was a 65-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Moberly was the Richardson family home for 50 years prior to Frank and Margie moving to Macon, Missouri in 2013.
Frank was known for his integrity, honesty, dependability, trustworthiness, loyalty, and faith. God was at the top of Frank’s priorities, and everyone knew it. His value system was interwoven into his family.
Frank and his wife Margie began dating in high school, and he loved no one but her for the rest of their lives. Those preceding him in death are his parents and his beloved wife, Margie. He is survived by his children, Nina (Mike) Roberts of Morrison, CO, Stanley (Mary Helen) Richardson of Galt, MO, Lisa (Darwin) Reis of Ames, IA, Jake (Kim) Richardson of Orlando, FL, Sara (Malcolm) Spencer of Hamilton, OH; eighteen grandchildren, ten great- grandchildren; extended family and many friends.
Services celebrating Frank’s life will be held Monday, May 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Pathway Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service. Interment and graveside services will be held Tuesday, May 22, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., at Hillcrest Cemetery in Carterville, IL.
Memorial contributions are appreciated to Timber Lake Christian Church, 1624 Gratz Brown, Moberly, MO 65270 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 2400 Bluff Creek Dr., Columbia, MO 65201.
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