Richard, Phil Lamarr (1952-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Jun 22 p. 21

Birth date: 1952 Aug 3

text of obituary:

PHIL L. RICHARD

Phil Lamarr Richard, 56, of Hesston, Kan., died June 7, 2009, at Newton Medical Center. He was born Aug. 3, 1952, to Elmer J. and Eunice M. (Amstutz) Richard in Orrville, Ohio.

He accepted the Lord as his personal Savior and joined Pleasant Hill Mennonite Church, Sterling, Ohio, in 1964. He graduated from Norwayne High School in 1970, and from Goshen (Ind.) College in 1974.

He worked for several radio stations as news director/general manager, followed by employment in communications at Mennonite Board of Missions in Elkhart, Ind., and Eastern Mennonite Missions in Salunga, Pa. In July 2002, he became director of communications at Hesston College.

He married Sandi K. McLaughlin on Oct. 23, 1999, at Akron (Pa.) Mennonite Church.

They began their married life in East Petersburg, Pa. They served a three-month volunteer term with Christian radio station KYKD in Bethel, Alaska, in 2001.

He was a member of Hesston Mennonite Church, where he participated in the bell choir and one of the praise teams. His hobbies included sports, sports card collecting, coin collecting, reading, journaling, and playing and listening to music. He enjoyed playing the piano and was recently learning how to play the organ. He had a great sense of humor and loved to tell jokes. He had a gift of compassion and a sensitive, caring spirit.

In March of 2006, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. In March of 2009, it was discovered that the cancer had metastasized to other parts of his body. Through it all, he kept his deep faith in God.

Survivors include his wife, Sandi; his father, Elmer, of Creston, Ohio; three siblings, Sidney and his wife, Sandra J., of Goshen, Ind., Kristina Gerber and her husband, Steve, of Creston, Ohio, and Kent and his wife, Rita, of Talmage, Pa.; 13 nephews and nieces and a great-niece.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Eunice.

Memorial services were held at Hesston Mennonite Church. Burial will take place in Ohio.