Obituary

Don Henry Richardson

May 2, 1933–July 21, 2022

Don Henry Richardson passed away July 21, 2022, in Pomeroy, Wash., succumbing to Lymphoma.

Born May 2, 1933, in Portland, Ore., to Walter Vassar Richardson and Mabel Morse Richardson, Don attended Portland area schools, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1951, serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean War era, and then attending Portland State College.

Don joined Trailways Bus System as a driver, and traveled through 48 states including nine trips to Alaska in his 13-year career. Don was in Alaska driving for Trailways during the 9.2 magnitude, March 27, 1964, Great Alaskan earthquake, and he successfully transported his passengers to the lower 48 states in the aftermath. At the time of his death Don was the oldest active farmer in Garfield County.

Don married Patricia Anne Perkins on February 14, 1964, in Portland, Ore., and to them were born two children, Jeanine Kathleen and Robert Walter. Don spent summers during high school working on the family farm in Pomeroy, Wash., and in 1973 the family moved to Pomeroy where he took over operations of the Richardson Family Farm. Don and Pat later divorced.

Don made the most of winter downtime on the farm, and obtained and modified several buses over the years. His pride and joy was a 1961 GMC 4106, formerly known as Trailways Bus 250, which was one of the buses he frequently drove during his career with Trailways. Don converted the bus to a private coach he fondly referred to as "The Blue Mountain Trail."

Don enjoyed sharing The Blue Mountain Trail with the community, making many trips over the years, including traveling to Spokane for the Shrine Hospital Dedication, to Walla Walla for musicals, to Pullman for Washington State Junior Miss/Young Woman of the Year competitions, wrestling tournaments, McCall Winter Carnival, Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo, Ashland with the College English students, Advanced Biology student trip, and serving as the official transportation for the wedding parties of his nephew Jeff Anderson and niece Sandra Anderson Robinson.

At various times in Don's life, he was active in the Al Kader Shrine Club, the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Lewiston Elks Club, South Eastern Washington Agricultural Museum, Cranker Club, and was a lifetime member of the Pomeroy Future Farmers of America Alumni Association. He enjoyed driving school buses for the Pomeroy School District, and was a member of the Pomeroy Christian Church.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Vas and Mabel Richardson, brother Morse Richardson, and son-in-law Daniel Kern.

He is survived by his sister Diane Richardson Anderson (Stewart), daughter Jeanine Kathleen Richardson Kern, son Robert Walter Richardson (Kathleen), five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at the Richardson Brown Funeral Home in Pomeroy, with lunch following at the Pomeroy Christian Church on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to: Garfield County Hospital District, c/o HUGS, 66 N. Sixth St., Pomeroy, WA 99347 or Pomeroy Future Farmers of America Alumni Association, c/o Kyle Kimble, 442 Smith Gulch Rd., Pomeroy, WA 99347.