Ernest "Rick" Ellsworth Richardson, Jr. passed away on Thursday, October 29, 2020 in Kansas City, MO.  He was born December 3, 1934 in Roxbury, Massachusetts to Ernest E. Sr. and Frances (Revaro) Richardson during the Great Depression followed by W.W. II. Ernest E. Sr. served in the military, and the family lived all across the U.S. including Boston, MA, Trenton, NJ, Tacoma, WA and several other locations.  During W.W. II, Ernest and his two young sisters lived in an orphanage.  On April 10, 1950 at age 15 Ernest dropped out of school to join the United States Army. He was immediately sent to Korea where he served in the Korean War from 1950-1951.  He spent his 16 ^th birthday on the Yellow River in North Korea helping hold back the Chinese as U.S. troops were retreating. After nine months of combat duty, he was sent home with an honorable discharge when it was discovered that he was a minor.  In January 1952, age 18, he enlisted in the United States Air Force.  In December 1965 he was sent to Vietnam where he served a year in the Vietnam War.  Over the span of the rest of his military career he served in Germany, Japan, Thailand, Hawaii, Greenland, Philippines and Canada among many other locations.

On August 23, 1957 he was united in marriage to the love of his life Vesta Lawson in Springfield, MO.  To this union one son, Randy and three daughters, Angela, Elizabeth and Teresa were born.  Being a military family, they moved many times throughout the United States and Canada.  Ernest was very devoted to his family, working part time jobs and even selling his blood to the blood bank to help support them.  After 23 years of active military service Ernest retired from his military career in 1974 at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma.  Over the years he received recognition for his many top-rate proficiency reports.  He always felt this was accomplished because of the love and caring support of his wife, Vesta.

Upon his retirement, the family moved to Springfield, MO where they bought and established their first home.  Being only 38 years old, Ernest went to work at Missouri State University (MSU) in the Military Science Department. His responsibilities included ordering supplies, weaponry, ammunition, uniforms and other duties for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. While employed at MSU, tragedy struck when his wife Vesta at age 49 unexpectedly passed away on December 13, 1984.  Ernest was devastated.  In 1987 Ernest retired from MSU.

After retiring from MSU, Ernest drove the Older Adults Transportation (OATS) bus and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) van as needed.  He enjoyed square dancing, traveling around the world and most of all spending time with his family and many grandchildren.  He was a life-time member of the American Legion Post in Tacoma, Washington.  He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church since early 1974 where he served as an usher, Eucharistic Minister and became a member of the Knights of Columbus.

This is truly a dedicated military family starting with Ernest's Grandfather Revaro who served in the United States Navy.  Ernest's Father Ernest Sr. served over 20 years in the United States Army including in Europe during W.W. II.  Ernest served 23 years including time in the Korea and Vietnam wars.  Ernest's Daughter Elizabeth served in the United States Army and deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Storm.  His oldest Grandson Dean served in the United States Army and deployed for several months to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Ernest is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Vesta and two sisters, Frances and Barbara.

Survivors are son, Randy Richardson of Milford, NE, three daughters, Angela (Dwight) Myers of Morrisville, MO, Elizabeth Richardson of Kansas City, MO, Teresa (Mike) Green of Springfield, MO, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews and many friends.

COVID observance will be followed.  Visitation will be at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home, 1947 E. Seminole, Springfield from 7:00pm-8:00pm Wednesday, November 4, 2020 with a prayer service at 7:00pm.  A private funeral mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Thursday, November 5, 2020 at 10:00am.  Mass will be live streamed via the Church website https://ic-parish.org/ .  Burial will be at 12:00pm in the National Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans .