Wayne D. Richards

FRANKFORD- Wayne D. Richards, age 79, died peacefully at the Newton Medical Center on Friday, February 10, 2023, after a long illness. Son of the late Walter and Dorothea Richards of Beemerville, Wayne attended Sussex High School and enlisted in the Navy and served aboard the USS Vigil, a Radar Station Ship of the Continental Air Defense Command, receiving an honorable discharge in 1966. Wayne operated his own business, Richards Painting Service, for many years before working for the County of Sussex; first with the County Transit when it first started and later with Facilities management working in the Judicial Center in Newton until his retirement. Wayne was a long-time firefighter with the Beemerville Fire Department, and he enjoyed gardening and spending time working on old cars. He was a founding member of the Wanderer’s Car Club. He was very proud of his customized 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible that he restored with his son, Walter. He was the Northern NJ State Colonel of the Kustom Kemps of America. He was also a proud member of the American Legion Post 213 of Sussex and was a volunteer with the NJ State Fair®/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show. Arguably, though, Wayne’s greatest passion was his family. He was married for 52 years to his wife, Doris, and provided the utmost care for her until she passed in 2017 after a long illness. He set a great example of hard work, dedication, generosity and perseverance until the very end for his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his son, Walter and his wife Sharlene and his son, Michael and his wife Lexi; and four grandchildren, Devon, Julia, Greyson and Kyla. Wayne was also predeceased by his brother, Norman and is survived by his sisters, Janice Bathgate and Carol Hough; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. Wayne led a life of service and was a reliable friend to many. He was known for his ability to fix anything and would often state that “necessity is the mother of invention.” Whether he was painting the steeple of a church, fine-tuning an HVAC system or restoring an old car, Wayne always got the job done with attention to detail. An interment and graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 12 noon at the Beemerville Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Wayne’s name to the Sussex County Farm & Horse Show, PO Box 2456, Branchville NJ 07826, or to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Avenue, Newton, NJ 07860. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank Street (Route 23), Sussex, NJ. Online condolences may be offered to the family on www.pinkelfuneralhome.com

Wayne D. Richards

March 5, 1943 - February 10, 2023