Stanley Richardson

STANLEY B. RICHARDSON

Cedar Rapids

Stanley B. Richardson died Dec. 2, 2016, at St. Luke's Hospital. According to his wishes, he was cremated and a graveside funeral service will be held May 26, 2017, at Oak Shade Cemetery, Marion.

Stanley was born April 3, 1924, in Olin, Iowa, to Frank H. and Minnie (Campbell, Schooley) Richardson in his Uncle Roy and Aunt Edna's farm home. He graduated from Olin High School with an athletic scholarship to Iowa State University, but was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps (Air Force). He met Georgia Sutton when he was stationed at Casper, Wyo. They were married in Topeka, Kan., prior to his departure for Europe and World War II.

His first assignment over Europe was as a B-24 tail gunner. On two missions, he was forced to bail out when his plane was shot down, once in enemy territory. He crawled most of the way back across enemy lines while being shot at. A French farm family took him in until he could be rescued by U.S. forces. He was transported on the Queen Mary from Europe to the U.S. for R & R and then returned to war. Sgt. Richardson served two tours of duty and was honorably discharged in 1945. Stanley was one of the Greatest Generation and a hero.

Stanley worked his entire adult life in Cedar Rapids. He is survived by his daughter, Diane L. McLain (Hall) (Professor David D. Hall Jr); his son, Brad Richardson, Ph.D. (Lora Rogerson); and grandchildren, Scott McLain, Judy McLain (Kevin Hart) and Sam Richardson. Stanley was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia, on April 28, 2014; his parents; and two half brothers, Ralph and Lloyd Schooley.

Please share a memory of Stanley at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.