Obituary of Earl Lewis Richards

Earl Lewis Richards passed away on June 26, 2018 from congestive heart failure, five days after his 87th birthday. He is survived by Gloria Richards, his loving and adoring wife and best friend of over 40 years, his daughters Barb Smith (Mark), Cindy Anderson(Scott), and loving step-daughter Lisa Landsom (John). Grandchildren include Kent, Erik and Sara Anderson. Step-grandchildren include Alex, Justin, Kayle, Payden, Emma and Carter. Earl was preceded in death by his mother and father, Esther and Stanley Richards, and his brother, Robert Richards, 10 years ago. Earl was born in Flint, Michigan on June 21, 1931. His family later moved to Duluth where he graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1949. Shortly after graduation he married and had two daughters with his first wife of 20 years. In 1978 he met and then married Gloria, his true love and soulmate of the last 40 years. Earl was a man of few words, but many talents. Earl was always driven to solve complex problems which enabled him to achieve success in his numerous business interests, hobbies, passions, and a myriad of other interesting curiosities throughout his lifetime. Earl was dedicated to his family, employees, businesses, and most of all to his beloved wife Gloria, whom he always considered his dream come true. Earl had an incredible mind and a curiosity that knew no bounds. This led him to engage in various endeavors over the years which included radio and television engineering. He was instrumental in the birth of Channel 8 in Duluth, and also worked at WDSM. He was also involved in real estate development including building homes for sale and building the first “modern” apartments in the Kenwood neighborhood beginning in 1967. Earl opened the first Century 21 Real Estate company in Duluth which was successful for a number of years. He also started his own Sanitation Company named TGR, which stood for Trash, Garbage, and Rubble. In the 80’s when the economy slumped, Earl started the company More Money Barter. Through this he was able to help many short of funds. Earl was not all work and no play. His passion for aviation included becoming a private pilot at 26 years of age and flew well into his 70’s. Flying hang gliders, and hot air balloons gave him great joy. Other hobbies included downhill skiing, sailing, and fishing (Gloria would like to add that was not his greatest strength.) Earl is gone, physically, but will never be forgotten by those whose lives he touched deeply and meaningfully. To the extent that one measures a life by the positive impact one has, his was a resounding success. Gloria Richards expresses her deeply felt gratitude to the hospice staff at St Luke’s hospital whose compassion and kindness brought a measure of comfort during a devastating time in her and her husband’s last moments together. You were angels, all. Thank you. Please join family and friends in “Remembrance Of A Life Well Lived” at 3:00pm on July 12, 2018 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota located at 4100 Grand Avenue, with a visitation one hour prior. In lieu flowers, memorials preferred to the Ronald MacDonald house.